ICYMI: September was Healthy Aging Month—an opportunity to reflect on what healthy aging means and how we can support health and well-being throughout the lifespan. As we carry that conversation forward, it’s also an opportunity to consider how the assumptions we encounter about growing older can shape people’s experiences, opportunities, and well-being. Aging is a lifelong process that looks different for everyone, and no single age defines a person’s health, abilities, interests, or capacity to contribute.
Taking a broader view of aging means recognizing people as individuals rather than basing our understanding of their needs simply on how old they are. Health, well-being, connection, and participation can take different forms over time, and people can continue to learn, grow, build relationships, and meaningfully contribute to their families, communities, and society throughout their lives. People of all ages and abilities can also build habits that support lifelong healthy aging, like:
- Staying physically active in ways that work for them
- Eating a healthy diet, including plenty of whole, nutrient-dense foods
- Maintaining supportive relationships with friends, family, and others in their communities
- Playing an active role in decisions about their health and health care
Individual behaviors are just one part of healthy aging. The environments where people live and the opportunities available to them can also shape health and well-being throughout life. The social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect health outcomes. SDOH such as access to quality health care, healthy foods, safe housing, transportation, and quality education can influence people’s health, independence, social connection, and opportunities to participate in their communities. Understanding these factors—and recognizing that people may encounter different opportunities and barriers as they grow older—can help inform public health efforts that support health and participation throughout the lifespan.
ODPHP supports Americans’ well-being by promoting national public health priorities, developing guidance and tools, and increasing access to clear, actionable health information. Together, these efforts can help people support their health and well-being throughout their lives and make informed choices based on their individual needs, goals, and circumstances. ODPHP’s Healthy Aging Resources webpage offers educational materials for older adults as well as resources to inform programs, policies, partnerships, and outreach that support healthy aging in communities. Here are a few highlights:
- Healthy People 2030 has 20 objectives specifically focused on reducing health problems and improving quality of life for older adults. Healthy People 2030 also offers resources related to healthy aging, including SDOH sample scenarios that illustrate factors affecting older adults’ health and well-being and a quick start guide [PDF - 8.3 MB] with strategies for partnering with organizations to support healthy aging.
- The Move Your Way® campaign has a set of materials for older adults. These resources offer physical activity guidance that can help people find ways to be active that fit their needs and abilities, along with information on the health benefits of physical activity and reducing the risk of fall-related injuries.
- MyHealthfinder provides evidence-based health information to help older adults and caregivers make informed decisions about preventive care and healthy living.
- The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 offers guidance to help older adults make healthy food and beverage choices that support health and well-being as they age.
When we view aging across the full lifespan, we can help challenge misconceptions about growing older and recognize the strengths, experiences, and contributions people bring at every stage of life. Supporting healthy aging means creating conditions and opportunities for people of all ages and abilities to be valued as individuals, live with purpose, maintain meaningful connections, and participate in their communities in ways that work for them. By reconsidering assumptions about what people can or should do at a particular age, we can help foster healthier communities where everyone has opportunities to thrive.
