Once each decade for the last 50 years, the White House Conference on Aging has been held to examine the pressing issues of our nation’s older adults. During the July 2015 conference, special attention was paid to promoting healthy aging. The conference highlighted five ways our nation’s support systems can support people as they grow older: nutrition, preventive health services, managing chronic conditions, preventing injury and last, but certainly not least, physical activity.
As part of this emphasis on physical activity, September 2015 has been declared the very first annual Go4Life Month. The theme of the 2015 event is “Be Active Every Day.” Says NIA director Dr. Richard J. Hodes, “It’s never too late for exercise to have a positive effect on your health. We know that exercise can reduce the risk of heart disease, obesity, stroke, diabetes and other chronic conditions. One recent study found that even sedentary people in their 70s and 80s improved mobility and reduced risk of disability through a regular program of structured physical activity.”
Go4Life is named for the Go4Life campaign, begun in 2012 by the National Institute on Aging to promote exercise and physical activity for people age 50 and older, and in recognition that adults in the U.S. tend to become less active as they age.
During Go4Life Month, organizations who work with the older population are encouraged to get the word out about the importance of exercise and physical activity. You can visit the Go4Life website to find some great materials:
- Tip sheets
- A free exercise guide to order or download; the guide is also available as an audiobook
- A handy workout guide
- A free exercise DVD
- Flyers and posters organizations can use to promote the Go4Life goals.
- Many of the resources are also available in Spanish-language versions.
Visit the Go4Life website to learn more about Go4Life Month!
Source: IlluminAge AgeWise reporting on materials from the National Institute on Aging.
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