Promoting healthy ageing

Abstract

There is plenty of evidence that ageing is affected by healthrelated behaviours. Regular physical activity along with a good diet have been shown to have significant health benefits resulting in improvements as well as maintaining physical and intellectual capability in old age (Warburton et al, 2006). It is recommended that people aged 65 years and over should undertake a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate intensive physical activity at least 5 days a week, like younger adults. Physical activity can not only prevent the onset of chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, but exercise can also help maintain flexibility and balance thereby maintaining mobility and independence and reducing dependency upon others (de Groot et al, 2004). With people living longer, it is important to focus upon health maintenance alongside functional capacity and quality of life. Only 20.8% of Persson and While’s (2011) sample of community dwelling older people reported recommended activity levels. When heavy housework and heavy gardening were added to the activities, 48.0% of the sample met the recommended activity levels. Performing light housework, light gardening, walking outside and the number of flights of stairs climbed weekly correlated with being physically active at the recommended levels. In the study, black people were about 2.6 times more active than the white people sampled, which the study linked to heavy housework over longer periods of time every week. Domestic activities can therefore have health benefits and should be encouraged. This study, like others, found that activity levels reduced with age and the oldest participants did not participate in strenuous exercise. T’ai chi is a gentle exercise regime commonly practiced in the Far East. It comprises deep breathing, relaxation and slow movements into different positions which are held. Its advocates claim that it has widespread health benefits across many long-term conditions, although Lee and Ernst’s (2011) systematic review assessing the evidence for health benefits of t’ai chi found contradictory conclusions across the trials and different diseases. However, the review did find consistent evidence for the benefits of t’ai chi to older people generally and in prevention of falls in particular, suggesting that t’ai chi has a place in helping older people maintain their health. BJCN