Health and Wellness

Maintaining a good mental state and overall health and wellness – to the degree possible – is an essential part of successful aging at home. Everyone is different and what ‘healthy’ and what ‘wellness’ looks like will vary considerably given one’s goals for aging, needs and resources – financial, social and those within the community.

Still, we believe health and wellness can be better supported if Americans

  • Have a good understanding of their medical condition and treatment plan;
  • Are empowered to talk to their medical team about their condition, goals and preferences;
  • Have the understanding, tools and resources to correctly manage their medical conditions.

We also believe health and wellness is not dependent only on medical care. Indeed 70% of your health outcomes are driven by non-clinical factors, such as: behaviors, environment and social connections – what are generally known as ‘social determinants of health’.

Think about your health and wellness in the following three areas. Then explore our resources to learn more about supporting and growing your total well-being.

1. Physical Function

This is your ability to perform ‘activities of daily living’ such as walking, transferring, grooming and eating. As function declines so does self-reliance.  This then requires outside help and support from family and paid caregivers.

Self-reliance may be improved by improving physical condition, better understanding of the progression of physical limitations and the use of durable medical equipment.

2. Cognitive Condition

Your cognitive (or mental) condition as you age relates to your ability to perform both ‘Activities of Daily Living’ like walking, dressing and bathing; as well as, ‘Instrumental Activities of Daily Living’ like preparing meals, paying bills, shopping and housekeeping.

It is important to understand, while symptoms associated with cognitive conditions like dementia can be treated, there is currently no cure for cognitive decline. The Aging at Home Association does not examine or recommend any activity or treatment which purports to slow or prevent cognitive decline.

3. Medical Condition

Understanding and properly managing your medical condition – whether ‘acute’ (temporary) or ‘chronic’ (longer term) is important when it comes to long term aging in your home. This includes monitoring your vital signs, understanding your symptoms and how they may change, properly taking your medications and keeping your medical appointments.

Note: The Aging at Home Association does not claim expertise in the diagnosis or treatment of any cognitive, functional or medical condition. We rely on vetted links to third party content to support your understanding and engagement on these topics.