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Promoting
Healthy Lifestyles
Increasing the Quality and Years of Healthy Life
With health care costs and the number of older Americans increasing,
health promotion and disease prevention programs are on the minds
of all who work for, and with, aging persons. Chronic conditions,
disabilities, and life threatening illnesses frequently can be
prevented or controlled often through relatively inexpensive programs
that save millions in health care costs and, most importantly,
enable older people to remain active and independent members of
their families and communities.
Through the AoA, OAA funds have been disbursed to the nationwide
network of 56 State and Territorial Units on Aging, their 655
Area Agencies on Aging, and 244 Tribal Organizations. Under Title
III, AoA allocates funds for health promotion and disease prevention
activities that include the following: health risk assessments
and screenings, nutrition screening and educational services,
physical fitness, health promotion programs on chronic disabling
conditions, home injury control services, counseling regarding
social services, and follow-up health services.
These activities are of vital importance because they educate
older people about good health care practices and help to identify
conditions, such as hypertension, high cholesterol levels, and
elevated blood sugar levels, which, if left untreated, can lead
to arteriosclerosis, heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and a number
of other diseases and conditions. Smoking cessation, drug and
alcohol abuse prevention, medication management, and accident
prevention programs also educate older persons about changes that
they can make in their daily lives that help them to stay healthy
and productive. Please use the websites below to learn more information
about specific prevention and promotion activities.
Resource Links (All Links are Off site)
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Dept. of Health & Human Services
