Activities to Stay Activities to Stay Healthy Healthy

and Live Longerand Live Longer

Professor Anne Hiller Scott, PhD, OTRProfessor Anne Hiller Scott, PhD, OTR

Professor Rebecca States, PhDProfessor Rebecca States, PhD

Associate Dean, William Susman, PhD, PTAssociate Dean, William Susman, PhD, PT

Interdisciplinary, Community-Based, Interdisciplinary, Community-Based, Health Education for Diverse Elders.Health Education for Diverse Elders.

HRSA Grant#1 D37 HP 00838-01HRSA Grant#1 D37 HP 00838-01

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010

• National program to improve the health of all Americans - to promote healthy behavior & create healthy environments

• GOALS

–Increase number of years of healthy life• To help people live longer

–Increase Quality of Life• Personal sense of physical and mental health

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010

Leading Causes of DeathHeart Disease, Cancer and Stroke

• MOST PREVENTABLE Causes of Death:

• SMOKING – increases risk of– Heart Disease, Stroke, Lung Cancer, Chronic Lung

Disease

– During Pregnancy – may cause

• Miscarriage, premature birth, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), asthma, bronchitis

• OBESITY – increases risk of– High blood pressure, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes,

heart disease, stroke, arthritis, breathing problems, etc.

• LEADING HEALTH INDICATORS– Behaviors that affect the health of individuals, examples…

• PHYSICAL ACTIVITY– People in the Northeast and South exercise less– Women exercise less than men– People over age 75:

• 2 in 3 WOMEN have NO regular physical activity• 1 in 3 MEN have NO regular physical activity

• OBESITY– Need to follow diet guidelines, eat healthy, lose weight

• TOBACCO USE– Affects the smoker and others through second hand smoke – Children and pregnant women are at greatest risk for harm

HEALTHY PEOPLE 2010

What YOU Can DO to Stay Healthy!• PHYSICAL ACTIVITY (30 Minutes a day) helps prevent: • (But ANY exercise is better than NO exercise)

– Heart disease– High blood pressure– Obesity – excess weight– Diabetes– Depression – mental disorders

• EATING RIGHT – LESS is MORE– LESS: Fats, Fried Foods, Starches, Sugar, Salt– MORE: Fresh Fruits, Vegetables,

Lean Meat, Fish, Grains

• WEIGHT CONTROL– after 45 years of age people gain

more weight– watch the amount you eat - portion size

HEALTHY AGING…What is the key?

SUCCESSFUL AGING A study by Rowe & Kahn 1998

♦ STAY ACTIVE♦ HEALTHY LIFESTYLE♦ PREVENTION

MAJORITY of HEALTHY AGING is LIFESTYLE &

PREVENTION(Rowe & Kahn, 1998)

♦ IF YOU DON’T USE IT – LOSE IT

♦ CONFIDENCE in Your Abilities to Adapt and Stay Active

♦ ACTIVE PARTICIPATION Work and Play

♦ BEING PRODUCTIVE Volunteer Work/Work,

Caregiving

HEALTHY AGING (Rowe & Kahn, ‘98)

♦ SOCIAL SUPPPORT Family, Friends, Community

♦ MENTAL ACTIVITY Reading, Puzzles, Games

♦ PHYSICAL ACTIVITY Walk, Dance, Swim, Gardening, Senior Exercise Tapes, Stair Climbing, Mall Walking

♦ DIET and SUPPLEMENTS

A FEW MORE STUDIES ON HEALTHY ACTIVITIES

PetsTai ChiOccupational Therapy

PETS: Best Friend Dogs are lifesavers People who had heart

attacks: Lived longer if they

had a pet – WHY? Reduces Stress and

Blood Pressure Companion Care Exercise

TAI CHI: A Gentle Martial Art

Research Findings:Better BalanceLess FallsIncreased MovementLower Blood

PressureLower StressBetter Breathing

RANGE OF MOTION–ROM DANCE: Tai Chi, Music & Relaxation

Harlowe & Yu 1984, 1997

Occupational Therapy Program to:Increase MovementReduce PainReduce StressResearch Studies – helps with

Arthritis and other illnessesChronic Pain & Fatigue Depression

7 Minute Videotape: Commercially available1 800 488-4940 or www.taichihealth.com

OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY:Extends QUALITY of LIFE in well elderly Journal American Med. Assoc. JAMA: 1997, 278, 1321-26.OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY helps people keep

doing everyday activities that are important in their livesOCCUPATION means ALL ACTIVITIES or TASKS

that OCCUPY you in a day, the Skills for the Job of Living:– Self-care Eating, Cooking, Dressing, Grooming,

Housework– Caregiving– Social Activity– Leisure/Recreational Activity– Work/Volunteer Work– Physical & Mental Tasks Staying active at home and

participating in the community

Occupational Therapy Research Well Elderly Study

JAMA, 1997 Clark, et. al.

The value of staying involved and active Participating in activities important to youOvercoming fears – gaining confidenceExample: Clara had arthritis and diabetes and lived

alone staying mostly in her apartment complex• rarely went out due to fear of falling • after the OT Lifestyle Redesign Program she

finished 1 mile with her walker in the LA Marathon

How do YOU make CHANGES?

What are ACTIVITIES you can DO

to keep HEALTHY

and live LONGER

with good QUALITY of LIFE?

How should YOU start to make CHANGES?

Identify concrete GOALS for healthy activities Start SMALL – STEP by STEP

o      You can’t change everything at once!Get SUPPORT

o      Talk with family and friendso      Get information from your health care

provider and other resourceso      Try to include others in your plans- For

example start a walking group

Making CHANGES in Your LIFESTYLE Keep Track of Your PROGRESS

WHAT activity/change are you trying to accomplish? Break it down into small steps.

WHY do you want to make this change? Remember your motivation.

DON’T GIVE UPKEEP TRYINGYOU ARE WORTH ITYOU CAN DO IT!