Overview of Healthy Aging

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, healthy aging is defined as:

“the process of maintaining good physical, mental, and social health and well-being as we grow older.”

In 2023, nearly a quarter of older adults ages 65 and older reported fair or poor health status. Compared to younger adults, older adults have higher rates of chronic diseases and mobility challenges which can impact health. As the older adult population continues to grow, the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion has identified healthy aging as a national priority.

Many factors influence older adults' ability to age in good health, ranging from those at the individual level, such as physical activity and nutrition, to factors at the community level, including social determinants of health like access to healthcare, affordable housing, and transportation options. Understanding both the facilitators and barriers to healthy aging is essential for designing programs that address the unique needs of older adults living in rural communities.

Supporting healthy aging benefits the entire community. When older adults are healthy, active, and independent, they contribute to society, through employment and volunteering their time, promoting intergenerational connections, providing support to family members, sharing their knowledge and experience, and reducing healthcare costs and caregiver burden.

Age-Friendly Ecosystem

In recent years, aging experts have worked to advance the age-friendly employer ecosystem. The age-friendly ecosystem is a collaboration between public health systems, communities, employers, universities, and health systems. Working together across sectors, the age-friendly ecosystem provides the opportunity to enhance older adults' quality of life and combat ageism. Despite challenges due to fewer resources, adopting the age-friendly ecosystem in rural areas can improve older adults' health and well-being, social engagement, built environment (for example, recreation spaces, housing, roads), and the overall ability of the community to support healthy aging. For more information on creating age-friendly communities, see Module 2.

Resources to Learn More

Aging in the United States: A Strategic Framework for a National Plan on Aging
Document
Outlines a national plan to support healthy aging across sectors and provides recommendations for stakeholders within national and local governments, communities, caregivers, and healthcare and social services providers.
Organization(s): Administration for Community Living
Date: 5/2024

Interactive Summary Health Statistics for Adults
Website
Interactive data tables sharing statistics on a variety of health topics including chronic disease, health status, health insurance coverage, healthcare use, and more. Data tables can be narrowed by geographic characteristics and by age to view estimates for adults ages 65 and older.
Organization(s): National Center for Health Statistics