TAKE AN ASSESSMENT TO IMPROVE YOUR HEALTH
Growing older has long been associated with steady declines in physical abilities and mental agility, but a new Yale University study suggests seniors with more positive beliefs about
aging can improve their health over time.
The federally funded 12-year study of more than 11,000 older adults found that people with positive thoughts about aging were significantly more likely to show improvements in both their brain power and their walking speed. Almost half of older adults studied showed measurable improvement in their brain health, physical function or both over time. “Many people equate aging with an inevitable and continuous loss of physical and cognitive abilities,” said Linda Levin, CEO of Northeast Florida nonprofit ElderSource. “This new research shows what we’ve suspected for a long time: improving later in life is common and should be part of our understanding of the aging process.”
The connection between our understanding of our health and wellbeing along with improvements in those areas is the motivation behind ElderSource’s new partnership with BetterAge. Through the partnership, ElderSource is offering a free online tool that allows seniors to take a confidential 10-minute assessment to receive a customized personal health
and well-being report. The report includes tips and recommendations to help seniors get the most out of their lives.
The research recently reported in the journal Geriatrics tracked participants in a long-term study of older Americans. The findings suggest there is often a reserve capacity for improvement later in life, Levin said. Age beliefs are modifiable. Negative age stereotypes, absorbed from the culture, can have an impact on how healthy a person ages.
Participants completing the online assessments receive a report that not only benefits them but also helps ElderSource and its partner agencies to understand better what’s important in helping area seniors maintain their health.
“Feedback from the assessments will be used to improve the programs and services ElderSource and its partner agencies offer,” Levin said. According to Levin, local senior centers offer an excellent way to engage with peers, participate in activities to make small steps in improving overall health and well-being and the opportunity to continue
to age well. Take the Survey at https://eldersource.health-wellbeing.betterage.net/
getStarted/
