The number one indicator of longevity is physical activity. With the percentage of the American population over the age of 60 rapidly growing, it is time to promote activity in older adults. A public health perspective looks not just at the decisions and actions of an individual person, but also the interpersonal, community, and structural factors that contribute to those actions and decisions.
While it is important to make sure older adults maintain their ability to walk and stay active through age-friendly strength and balance exercises, it is critical to ensure safe spaces are accessible.
Smooth sidewalks, crosswalks with adequate crossing time, street lighting and places to walk all help promote walking. There are groups in major urban areas, like New York City, working to change legislation, as well as innovative environmental and city planning to account for unique needs of senior citizens for living actively. There is also national Complete Streets legislation that aims to transform streets into good pedestrian pathways and bikeways.
In regard to care environments, The Eden Alternative is an organization dedicated to creating habitats for human beings that promote quality of life. If we want to help the fastest growing group of people in our country (adults over the age of 60) stay healthy we need to facilitate their ability to keep moving!
Active Aging Resources
- “An Integrated Approach to Mobility: Walking, Driving and Passenger Transport” presentation with William Satariano PhD, MPH, School of Public Health, UC Berkeley
- “Vibrant Aging” Documentary Film by Julie Miller, Second-year MSW student, School of Social Welfare, UC Berkeley
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Healthy Aging and the Built Environment resource page
- CDC Healthy Aging Research Network