CRICOS Provider No. 00103D | RTO Code 4909

Healthy Ageing and Wellbeing

Professor Colette Browning

School of Health

Director Population Health Stream, Health Innovation and Transformation Centre

15 September 2021

Health Innovation andTransformation Centre

CRICOS Provider No. 00103D | RTO Code 4909

1

What is Healthy Ageing?

“… the process of optimising opportunities for physical, social

and mental health to enable older people to take an active

part in society without discrimination and to enjoy an

independent and good quality of life.”Swedish National Institute of Public Health. (2006). Healthy ageing: A challenge for Europe. Stockholm: Author. Retrieved March 5, 2016

from http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_projects/2003/action1/docs/2003_1_26_frep_en.pdf.

CRICOS Provider No. 00103D | RTO Code 4909

2

Ageism

• “Poor health is inevitable because of ageing”

• Poor health is not inevitable for many people: many age

well as evidenced by our studies and many others

CRICOS Provider No. 00103D | RTO Code 4909

3

Study 1: Melbourne Longitudinal Studies on Healthy Ageing

• N=1000 older adults followed every 2 years for 16 years

• Healthy ageing defined as good or better self-rated physical

health, independent in ADL and good or better mental

health

• We found three trajectories of ageing over 16 years

CRICOS Provider No. 00103D | RTO Code 4909

4

Healthy Ageing Trajectories

Healthy ageing at all waves

Healthy ageing then decline

Poor health at all waves

Women 30.2% 50.5% 19.3%

Men 28.0% 47.6% 24.4%

CRICOS Provider No. 00103D | RTO Code 4909

5

Predictors of Healthy Ageing

Women Men

• Fewer medical conditions

• Restful sleep

• Fewer medical conditions

• Less stress• Non-smoker• Good social support

CRICOS Provider No. 00103D | RTO Code 4909

6

Study 2: Understanding Healthy Ageing

• Studies conducted in 4 countries: Australia, China, Saudi Arabia and Malaysia:

• What does healthy ageing mean to you?• What helps you to age well?• What prevents you from ageing well?

CRICOS Provider No. 00103D | RTO Code 4909

CRICOS Provider No. 00103D | RTO Code 4909

Healthy ageing means .…

To achieve healthy ageing we need ….

Understanding Healthy Ageing

• Being physically active• Maintaining independence• Being socially connected• Contributing to society

• Security in finance and housing• Safe and age friendly environments• Accessible transport• To prevent and manage illness• To address ageism

CRICOS Provider No. 00103D | RTO Code 4909

9

Decline with ageing is not inevitable …… Prevention and Management

• Manage chronic illnesses• Control health behaviours:

• Reduce Smoking, alcohol consumption• Maintain healthy weight, diet rich in fish and vegetables • Engage in moderate physical activity, strength training• Improve sleep quality• Social support

CRICOS Provider No. 00103D | RTO Code 4909

CRICOS Provider No. 00103D | RTO Code 4909

11

Service and Intervention Approaches

• Ageing outcomes can be changed• Interventions/services must:

• Assist older people to increase health behaviours and manage chronic illnesses (Happy Life Club)

• Address social needs of older people• Involve older people in service co-design

• Staff need to be trained to enable these approaches