UW Combined Fund Drive

September 1, 2023

Promoting health in an aging population

For several generations, especially for those we know today as the Silent Generation and Baby Boomers, the American Dream included not just gainful employment and climbing the property ladder, but also a retirement filled with frequent travel, enjoying the grandkids, pursuing hobbies and otherwise finding fulfillment.

This has, of course, never been a realistic view of later life for most people. Some find enjoyment in their work and have no intention of suddenly stopping. Many others may wish to retire or work less but can’t afford to.

The other major constraint–often glossed over by the glossy lifestyle magazines aimed at older people–is health. Problems with illness and disability force some to stop working prematurely, with the result that savings are more likely to be spent on medical bills and prescriptions than on cruises or tropical getaways.

Furthermore, research has found health disparities in aging based on socioeconomic status, race, gender, and sexual orientation.

September is Healthy Aging Month

Designating September as Healthy Aging Month raises awareness of ways to increase wellbeing as people age. First started twenty years ago by magazine editor Carolyn Worthington, its scope and impact has grown significantly as the U.S. population has aged.

At the start of the millennium, 35 million Americans were aged 65 or older. By 2040, this number is expected to more than double to 80 million. Of those, 15 million will be 85 or older. Even among the very oldest–centenarians–the population rose by almost 50% from 2000 to 2014.

With no signs that these trajectories will slow down, let alone reverse, there is an ethical, societal and financial imperative to maximize health in older generations, allowing them to enjoy either retirement or continuing in their careers.

UW’s own Healthy Aging and Longevity Research (HALO) Institute is among those leading the charge in this field. Housed in the School of Medicine and founded by Dr. Matt Kaeberlein, its mission is “to enhance understanding of the biological mechanisms of aging in order to promote healthy longevity.”

Those last two words are crucial, recognizing the futility of increasing longevity without also addressing geriatric health. For this reason, Dr. Kaeberlein talks about “maximizing healthspan” instead of lifespan.

Related: Volunteer to prevent older adult isolation

The School of Nursing’s de Tornyay Center for Healthy Aging approaches the problem from a slightly different angle: funding nursing research and promoting the field of gerontology as a nursing specialization.

Spotlight on dementia

Of the many illnesses and disabilities that can rob people of their ability to thrive in their older years, one of the cruelest may be dementia. Actually a family of several neurodegenerative conditions rather than a single disease, dementia is defined as “the loss of cognitive functioning — thinking, remembering, and reasoning — to such an extent that it interferes with a person’s daily life and activities.”

While many older people occasionally forget names or where they left something, dementia is not a normal part of aging. However, more than a third of people aged 85 or over suffer from one form of dementia.

The best known–and most common–form is Alzheimer’s Disease, accounting for about 60% of dementia cases, but significant numbers suffer from other forms, such as vascular dementia, frontotemporal dementia, and Lewy Body Dementia (LBD).

Read more: Stopping meds to reduce falls in people with dementia (UW Medicine)

Although dementia is primarily considered a disease of the elderly, around 9% of cases are considered “early onset,” meaning that symptoms were detected before the age of 65. One other misconception is that forgetfulness is the defining symptom of dementia. Instead, sufferers can experience a wide range of debilitating symptoms including confusion, speech difficulties, hallucinations, changes in personality and behavior, and problems with movement and balance.

There is currently no cure for dementia. However, there are known risk factors which, if avoided, may reduce the chances of developing dementia. This brings us full circle, since the advice given to reduce dementia risks is largely the same as that given to promote healthy aging in general.

Maintain and improve health while aging

The National Institute on Aging, part of the National Institutes of Health, suggests the following steps to maintain quality of life and manage health:

  • Exercise – keeping moving can reduce the overall risk of death from all causes while maintaining muscle mass and helping to avoid obesity and type 2 diabetes.
  • Food and drink – small changes in eating habits can pay big health dividends. Multiple studies have determined the benefits of Mediterranean-style diets and moderating alcohol consumption, but even something as simple as eating green leafy vegetables has been shown to slow cognitive decline.
  • Sleep – contrary to common wisdom, older and younger adults both need the same amount of sleep, but seniors often struggle to achieve that due to pain or illness. Again, studies have linked chronic sleep deprivation with a host of health impacts, including an increased risk of dementia.
  • Mental health – loneliness and isolation are linked to higher risks of heart disease, depression, and, yes, cognitive decline, whereas remaining socially active can be protective against those. The type of activity is less important than act of just doing it, so this leaves many opportunities, including hobbies, clubs, faith-based or community organizations, sports, the arts, and education. As a good example of the latter, the UW Access program allows Washington State residents who are 60 or older to audit up to two UW classes per quarter for a nominal fee.
  • Seeing a doctor – regular check-ups can help catch illnesses early and identify and address risk factors for chronic conditions.

Resolve to make changes

Aging is an experience that everyone shares, albeit not in the same way. Genetics play a key role, as do socioeconomic, racial and gender factors. However, the relatively simple recommendations above have been proven to increase wellbeing, improve health, and mitigate risk factors for chronic conditions. And for those reading for whom old age seems far away, these lifestyle changes improve health outcomes at any age.

Support

Consider making a one-time contribution or setting up payroll deduction to one of our CFD member organizations supporting healthy aging:

University of Washington Retirement Association (UWRA) (charity code 1481553): The UWRA informs, connects and advocates for UW retirees and pre-retirees. The UWRA encourages continued engagement with the UW and fosters a purposeful retirement through educational and social programs.

Meals on Wheels People (charity code 1480747) has a mission to enrich the lives of older adults and assist them in maintaining independence by providing nutritious food, human connections, and social support. They also use their expertise and capacity to serve other nutritionally at-risk populations.

Generations Aging with Pride (charity code 1482583): empowers older LGBTQ adults to live with pride and dignity by promoting, connecting, and developing innovative programs/services that enhance belonging and support, eliminate discrimination, and honor older LGBTQ adults.

Sound Generations (charity code 0316444): Promotes the emotional, social and physical well-being of seniors, their families and caregivers by providing information and services such as Meals on Wheels, Senior Centers, home repair, transportation, community dining, and healthy aging.

Wallingford Community Senior Center (charity code 0316445): WCSC fosters healthy, secure, positive aging, while building community across generations. Varied programs promote healthy active living, social connection transition support, technology access and literacy, lifelong learning, and civic involvement.

Contributed by Simon Reeve-Parker