The month of September has been designated as Healthy Aging® Month, an annual health observance developed to help individuals think more positively about growing older, and take actions to promote their own physical, social, mental and financial well-being.
The initiative is sponsored by HealthyAging.net and listed by the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services among the officially recognized National Health Observances for the month of September.
“The main objective of Healthy Aging® Month is to encourage local level Healthy Aging® events that promote taking personal responsibility for one’s health… be it physically, socially, mentally or financially,” according to the sponsor.
The initiative began over 15 years ago as the result of “overwhelming public response” to a public television special, Our Nation’s Health… Healthy Aging®, produced by CWI Productions, Inc., an independent film and video production company, in connection with Educational Television Network, Inc, the event’s sponsor states.
Healthy Aging® Month is “an annual health observance designed to focus national attention on the positive aspects of growing older” and to provide “inspiration and practical ideas for adults, ages 50-plus, to improve their physical, mental, social and financial well being,” according to Carolyn Worthington, editor-in-chief of Healthy Aging® Magazine and executive director of Healthy Aging®.
Ms. Worthington created September is Healthy Aging® Month over 15 years ago at a time when Baby Boomers were approaching the age of 50.
“We saw a need to draw attention to the myths of aging,” Ms. Worthington says, “to shout out ‘Hey, it’s not too late to take control of your health, it’s never too late to get started on something new.’ Why not think about the positive aspects of aging instead of the stereotypes and the negative aspects?”
“It’s never too late to find a new career, a new sport, passion or hobby,” Ms. Worthington says.
She explains that she chose September for the annual observance, because it is a time of “back to school” focus, when many people think about getting started on new tasks after the summer — a time of “new beginnings.”
“The observance month’s activities are designed to encourage people to rejuvenate and get going on positive measures that can impact the areas of physical, social, financial and mental wellness,” the site’s sponsor states on its website, HealthyAging.net.
“We are about vibrant, active, 50-plus people who are taking charge of their lives, following their passion, and who are happily looking forward to what’s next in life,” says Ms. Worthington.
“Use September as the motivation to take stock of where you’ve been, what you really would like to do if money was no object,” Ms. Worthington exhorts in a news release about the initiative. “And try it! Who says you have to do something related to what you studied in school? Who says, you can’t start your own home business later in life, test you’re your physical prowess, or do something wildly different from anything you’ve done before? Only that person you see in the mirror!”
Resources for Healthy Aging® Month
HealthyAging.net lists 10 Tips for Re-Inventing Yourself During September is Healthy Aging Month. The descriptive subtitles of the 10 creative suggestions are:
- “JOB HUNTING? YOU ARE NEVER TOO OLD TO BE AN INTERN
- BACK TO SCHOOL
- TAKE A VOLUNTEER VACATION
- DANCE LIKE THERE’S NO TOMORROW
- HIT THE ROAD
- BECOME A ROCK N ROLL STAR
- LEARN TO PAINT A LANDSCAPE OR STILL LIFE
- FOLLOW YOUR PASSION
- EAT FRESH
- RE-INVENT YOURSELF IN NAPA VALLEY”
HealthyAging.net also provides a Healthy Aging® blog which includes articles and comments where people can share tips for positive aging online.
Other resources for Healthy Aging® Month offered by Healthy Aging® include:
- Healthy Aging® Magazine – 4 volume special. Containing tips and inspirational articles on positive aging. Price: $35 ($13 off the $48 price)
- Healthy Aging®…It’s Never to Late! – a brochure offered by the sponsor for $2.00 each, and
- Books on Healthy Aging offered by the sponsor — including Healthy Aging. . . Inspirational Letters from Americans (a 8.5″ x 11″ hardcover book consisting of “a collection of 240 short, heartening letters written by Americans over 50. The letters were chosen from thousands entered in a national contest, which challenged Americans 50+ to write the “letter of a lifetime” about the positive aspects of growing older.”) ($24.95 + shipping and handling), and Happiness: The Road To Well-Being by Donald L. Kjelleren ($18.35 in paperback).
HealthyAging.net invites those interested to become a sponsor of the initiative or to organize Healthy Aging® Month events in your area. Some of the suggestions offered include:
- “Create an Intergenerational Program.
- Set up a Healthy Aging® Walk-a-Thon.
- Give away free Healthy Aging® Materials.
- Sponsor a senior athletic event, such as a mall-walk, 5K run, or family fun bicycle ride.
- Promote and run a reading night at your local library. Invite local older adult celebrities to read passages from inspirational books at the event, and promote the event by advertising the celebrity participation.”
For more information and resources, visit the HealthyAging.net site.
More Information
See HelpingYouCare®‘s unique and extensive collection of Stories of Inspiring Seniors, found on our resource page for Healthy Living: Stories of Inspiring Seniors.
And, see related HelpingYouCare® reports on:
Experts Advocate Dancing for Health
US Government Provides Free Publications on Exercise, Diet and Weight Management
Study Discovers Hormone Produced by Exercise that Helps Burn Fat and Prevent Diabetes
President Proclaims May as Older Americans Month
You’re Never Too Old to Exercise
Physical Activity of All Kinds Lowers Risk of Alzheimer’s, Study Finds
World Health Day April 7 Focuses on Healthy Aging
Physically Active Seniors May Live Longer, Study Suggests
Fitness Lowers Odds of Death from Dementia, Study Finds
Benefits of Weight Training for People Over 50 (Video)
Exercise Changes DNA for the Better, New Study Finds
For more information on diet, exercise and other lifestyle factors that promote wellness and prevent diseases, see the HelpingYouCare® resource pages on Wellness/ Healthy Living for Seniors & Caregivers, including:
- Diet & Nutrition: Physical Wellness;
- Exercise: Physical Wellness;
- Sleep, Hygiene, Quit Smoking & Other Healthy Practices: Physical Wellness;
- Activities to Preserve Mental Acuity: Intellectual Wellness;
- Social Interaction & A Sense of Connection With Others: Social Wellness;
- Other Areas of Wellness: Emotional, Ethical/ Spiritual & Vocational Wellness; and
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