September is Healthy Aging Month 2024: physical, social, mental and financial wellness
It’s time to celebrate September Healthy Aging® Month, the annual observance month designed to focus national attention on the positive aspects of growing older.
What is September is Healthy Aging Month All About?
The observance month began more than 30 years ago as part of our National Healthy Aging® Campaign to continue to draw attention to healthy, active lifestyles at any age.
Carolyn Worthington, president of the non-profit Educational Television Network, Inc. started the month in 1992. She also heads up Healthy Aging®, the official multi-media platform promoting the month.
“Our goal in creating the month was to draw attention to the positive sides of growing older. We felt there needed to be a second time during the year in addition to May is Older Americans Month. September was chosen because so many people felt they could “get started” more easily at that time. Maybe the back-to-school routine never really goes away.”
Now, after more than thirty years, Worthington sees the national interest in continuing healthy lifestyles well into old age as never been stronger.
“We were pleased to announce that the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the resolution marking September as National Healthy Aging Month in 2021,” Worthington said. Numerous governors before that proclaimed the national observance month for their states as well.
“We are proud of our efforts to continue to build awareness for healthy lifestyles. Since we kicked off the observance month, the myths of aging have been chipping away,” Worthington said. “We are also proud to say the month we started is now on most national health observance calendars.”
“Of course, there are still stereotypes about older adults,” Worthington said. Perhaps the baby boomers embracing aging like no other generation started turning the tide. Seeing people in their 80s and 90s doing spectacular things today is not unusual.”
10 Tips for Healthy Aging®
The four main components of a healthy lifestyle fall into four main categories: physical, social, mental, and financial wellness.
Here are 10 tips. What are yours? Email us at info@healthyaging.net
- Move more, sit less. Why? Physical activity is your weapon to help control blood pressure, help prevent heart disease and stroke, and possibly lower your risk for depression, anxiety, and conditions like certain cancers and type 2 diabetes. What to do? Choose something fun so you can keep at it, like cycling, walking, dancing, swimming, or aerobics.
- How much do you need to do? Current national recommendations are 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity per week and two days of muscle-strengthening training. That’s only 20 minutes a day, 7 days a week, or around an hour a day if you do three days a week.
- Get motivated with free websites and apps like All Trails to find parks and trails around the world; American Heart Association with ideas on how to join a walking club, or The CDC with ideas for individuals with a disability
- Get Those Annual Check-Ups. Make this month the time to set up your annual physical and other health screenings. Go to the appointments, and then, hopefully, you can stop worrying about ailments for a while.
- Volunteer. ..Being of service is an excellent way to bring happiness into your life and not focus on yourself. Refocus on others and volunteer your time and expertise. United Way, the American Red Cross, VolunteerMatch, and AmeriCorps are all helpful resources.
- Beat back loneliness. Don’t wait for the phone to ring. Be proactive and call someone for a lunch date. Set up a calendar of lunch dates and challenge yourself to have at least two lunch dates per month (once a week is even better!) It doesn’t have to be expensive … pack a picnic, and head to a park. Try to mix up your get-togethers with old friends and new acquaintances.
- Rekindle or follow a new passion. Take a hard look at what you like to do rather than what other people tell you to do to meet new people. Pick some activities where you might meet new friends.
- Get a dog. If you don’t have one, get one and walk. You will be amazed how many people you will meet through your dog. Can’t have one? Check your local humane society to see if they need dog walkers
- Be realistic about what you can accomplish. Learn to say no …, and don’t overwhelm yourself with a to-do list. The non-profit Mental Health America offers more tips for reducing or controlling stress.
- Plan for your next passage. Capitalize on your career experience and start a new one. Yes, enjoy a brief “retirement.” Travel, and spend more time with family and friends. Develop new hobbies. Redefining your purpose to maintain a sense of identity and purpose is essential to a healthy lifestyle.
What is your next passage?
So, grab onto that “back to school” feeling and make September the perfect time to renew or set your lifestyle goals. It’s not too late!
Resources For Healthcare Educators
The 2024 September is Healthy Aging® Month poster makes an excellent lead-in to any wellness program discussion. If you are a health educator or wellness coordinator, you can use the poster to kick off sessions on the importance of a healthy lifestyle. Topics ideas include getting and staying in shape, the importance of challenging the mind and spirit, and why making a commitment to better health and keeping up social connections are critical.
If you are a health educator or administrator or simply want daily inspiration, the September is Healthy Aging® Month poster is the perfect visual for you.
The motivational poster captures the essence of a healthy lifestyle … dream big, look forward, and climb every mountain no matter how impossible it may look.
The 4-color poster is 18” x 24” and printed on high-quality 80 lb. cover stock. The poster is shipped promptly and arrives rolled in a shipping tube. Posters are shipped promptly.
Single print posters are $15.95 plus postage and handling.
Quantity discounts and the option to add your corporate logo are available. Email: sales@healthyaging.net for further information.
Healthy Aging® Magazine Celebration Discount for Friends and Family
Order a subscription to Healthy Aging® Magazine for friends and family and receive 20% off the subscription rate for the September is Healthy Aging® Month promotion.
Use promo code: 20percent (Valid until 9 30 24)
What’s Your Successful Aging Success Story?
There are so many other success stories out there. Share yours with us at the official site for September is Healthy Aging® Month either by emailing us for a possible feature article on the website, editor@healthyaging.net, or sharing via Facebook
So, let’s all continue to celebrate older adults who follow life with a passion, give back, and inspire others. Here’s to celebrating positive lifestyle choices, especially during September is Healthy Aging® Month!
