What is healthy aging?

What is health?

• According to the Constitution of World Health Organization (WHO), "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity." (WHO, 1948) It is essential for all peoples to access to the benefits of medical, psychological and related knowledge to have the fullest attainment of health. 
• Krahn, G. L. et al. (2021) stated that good health involves the ability to adapt and cope with stress, shaped by social, personal and environmental influences.

What is healthy aging?

• WHO further defines "healthy aging as the process of developing and maintaining the capabilities that enable all people to be and do what they have reason to value that enables wellbeing in older age."
• Cavanaugh J. C. and Blanchard-Fields F. (2019) stated "healthy aging involves avoiding disease, being engaged with life and maintaining high cognitive and physical functioning " and it is considered achieved when we attain our desired goals with dignity and as independently as possible in older age. 

Some strategies for successful healthy aging 

Exercise (example : jogging, step aerobic, swimming, Tai Chi exercise, Zumba)

• slow the physiological aging process
• improve body immune system
• improve cognitive function and mood

Nutrition balanced diet

(example : vegetables - dark green, red, orange, beans and peas, whole fruits, whole grains, fat-free or low-fat diary, omega-3 fatty acids, lean meats and poultry, eggs, nuts, vitamin D, oils, limit saturated fats and trans fat, limit added sugars, limit sodium) 

• lower risk of chronic diseases
• maintain physical and cognitive function
• prevent age-related diseases

Stay active cognitively & keep positive mindset (example : keep learning, do cognitive training, use all our senses, believe in ourselves)

• the ability to think, learn and remember clearly and carry out daily activities effectively
• less decline in memory
• reduce occurence of cognitive impairment and dementia

Stay engaged with others (example : staying connected with families, friends, neighbors through social activities and community programs)

• to prevent socially isolated or feeling lonely
• to reduce associated risks - cognitive decline (ability to think, learn and remember), depression 

Maintain good economic habits to avoid financial dependency 

• to  be able to live autonomously in older age - have the freedom to choose how and where to live, access necessary healthcare services, engage in activities that contribute to personal mental and physical well-being
• to be able to make choices ensuring comfort and dignity in older age

(Kanwar, P., 2025; Bojang, K. P., & Manchana, V., 2023; Barlett & Huffman, 2017; Parrella & Vormittag, 2017 cited in Cavanaugh J. C. and Blanchard-Fields F., 2019)

References:

Cavanaugh J. C. & Blanchard-Fields F. (2019). Adult Development and Aging. 8th Edition. Cengage Learning, Inc.

Bojang, K. P., & Manchana, V. (2023). Nutrition and Healthy Aging: A Review. Current nutrition reports, 12(3), 369–375.
https://doi.org/10.1007/s13668-023-00473-0

Harvard Health Publishing. (2020). 6 simple steps to keep your mind sharp at any age. Harvard Health Publishing. Retrieved [September 2, 2025] https://www.health.harvard.edu/mind-and-mood/6-simple-steps-to-keep-your-mind-sharp-at-any-age

Kanwar, P. (2025). Strategies for independent aging: The impact of financial independence, health insurance, and life efficacy on autonomous senior living. IJPR, 7(1), 75-81. https://www.doi.org/10.33545/26648903.2025.v7.i1b.78

Krahn, G. L., Robinson, A., Murray, A. J., & Havercamp, S. M. (2021). It’s time to reconsider how we define health: Perspective from disability and chronic condition. Disability and Health Journal, 14(4), Article 101129. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dhjo.2021.101129

National Institute on Aging. (2023). Cognitive Health and Older Adults. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved [September 2, 2025] https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/brain-health/cognitive-health-and-older-adults

National Institute on Aging. (n.d.). Healthy aging tips for the older adults in your life. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Retrieved [September 3, 2025] https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/caregiving/healthy-aging-tips-older-adults-your-life

World Health Organization. (n.d.). Constitution of the World Health Organization. Retrieved [August 30, 2025] https://www.who.int/about/governance/constitution

World Health Organization. (n.d.).Healthy Ageing and Functional Ability. Retrieved [September 2, 2025]
https://www.who.int/news-room/questions-and-answers/item/healthy-ageing-and-functional-ability

Content curated by

Webbist