In June, 2010, the American Geriatric Society's Foundation for Health in Aging put out a top ten list of tips for aging successfully. Excerpts from the article are below. 

• "Eat a rainbow....choose nutrient-rich foods like brightly colored fruits and vegetables...the more varied, the wider the range of nutrients you're likely to get."
• "Sidestep falls...walking as little as 30 minutes, three times a week can help you stay physically fit and mentally sharp, strengthen your bones, lift your spirits....get plenty of bone-healthy calcium and vitamin D daily."
• "Flatten your (virtual) opponent...conquering your adversary in a complex computer game, joining a discussion club, learning a new language, and engaging in social give-and-take with other people can all help keep your brain sharp."
• "Speak up...when you feel down or anxious. Roughly 1 in 5 older adults suffers from depression or anxiety. There are many good treatments for these problems."
• Get your shots...they're not just for kids! Must-have vaccines include those that protect against pneumonia, tetanus/diphtheria, shingles, and the flu.

To read the original article, Ten Top Tips for Aging Well
From the American Geriatrics Society's Foundation for Health in Aging, click HERE.

 

Capturing accurate and reliable resident assessment data leads to the development of personalized healthy aging plans for individuals, and provides a way to target the right programs and services to best match healthy aging needs for a campus or community.

To show that something really works, a provider must have solid outcomes-based program measures. Without this, communities will never know whether anecdotes really represent  what's going on across their entire membership.