At ODPHP, we support efforts to help people stay healthy as they age. Across our initiatives, promoting health for older adults is a top priority.
Healthy Aging Events
In 2015, HHS held the inaugural Healthy Aging Summit. Since then, ODPHP has continued to host events focused on the health of older adults, including a summit in 2018 and regional workshops.
These events highlight policies and successful community-level approaches to healthy aging — and encourage collaboration and knowledge-sharing between state public health agencies and state units on aging. Workshop attendees also learn about the social and environmental factors that impact older adults’ health.
In September 2021, we hosted a free 2-day virtual Healthy Aging Symposium. And you can watch all the symposium sessions and trainings for free on demand!
Check out the 2021 Healthy Aging Symposium sessions.
Healthy People 2030 Older Adults Topic
Healthy People 2030 sets measurable national objectives to improve the health and well-being of all people. Twenty of those objectives are specifically focused on reducing health problems and improving quality of life for older adults.
And Healthy People’s population data make it easy to see how older adults’ health compares to national targets.
Learn more about the Healthy People 2030 older adults objectives.
In addition, we've compiled a wide variety of objectives that are directly or indirectly related to helping people stay healthy as they age into a custom list so they're easy for you to reference and track.
Check out the Healthy Aging Custom List.
Move Your Way Materials for Older Adults
Physical activity can help older adults prevent both chronic disease and fall-related injuries. That’s why older adults have always been a priority audience for the Move Your Way® campaign, which is the promotional campaign for the second edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans.
ODPHP offers a variety of Move Your Way materials to help older adults get more physical activity.
Check out the Move Your Way materials for older adults.
Health and Wellness Tips for Older Adults on MyHealthfinder
MyHealthfinder provides evidence-based health information that’s actionable and easy to use. The site covers a wide range of topics, including different health conditions, preventive care, and everyday healthy living topics like nutrition and physical activity.
MyHealthfinder also includes information that’s specific to older adults.
Find evidence-based health information for older adults on MyHealthfinder.
Older Adults and the Dietary Guidelines
Building a healthy eating routine can help people stay healthy, active, and independent as they get older. That’s why ODPHP encourages older adults to build a healthy eating pattern that aligns with the recommendations in the 2020–2025 edition of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. And for the first time, this edition of the Dietary Guidelines includes recommendations specifically for older adults.
Take a look at the latest edition of the Dietary Guidelines.