Healthy Aging Topics
HIV Resources
Locate tips and recommendations for older adults living with HIV. Older adults living with HIV are at a higher risk of being diagnosed with dementia, diabetes, osteoporosis, and some cancers and of experiencing a fall. Although many older adults with HIV were diagnosed in their younger years, thousands of older adults contract HIV every year.
Briefs
- Healthy Living with HIV— Information (CDC, 2024)
- HIV/AIDS — Information about ACL Grantees that support older adults with HIV (ACL)
- Nutrition and Exercise— Recommendations for individuals living with HIV (U.S. Department of the Veterans Affairs)
Oral Health
Discover resources to address oral health amongst older adults. Oral hygiene is the practice of keeping one's mouth clean and free of disease and other problems by regular brushing of and cleaning between the teeth. Oral health is especially important for older adults to reduce the risk of complications due to untreated tooth decay, gum disease, or tooth loss.
Briefs
- Hunger Pains: How Food Insecurity Affects Oral Health— Report highlighting additional health outcomes of food insecurity (CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, 2023)
- Medications and Oral Health— Brief (American Dental Association)
- Nutrition: Adults Over 60— Resource on food choices help prevent tooth decay (American Dental Association)
- Oral Health Overview — Information and resources (ACL)
Guides
- Oral Health Quick Guide for Older Adults (Nutrition and Aging Resource Center)
Tools & Toolkits
- Beyond a Nice Smile: Links Between Oral Health and Overall Health for Older Adults— Handouts illustrating affects of poor oral health on other aspects of an older adults’ health (CareQuest Institute for Oral Health, 2023)
- Dental Aging Tips— App with modules for family caregivers on the importance of oral health, providing daily care, and overcoming barriers (University of Iowa College of Dentistry and Dental Clinics)
- Rural Oral Health Toolkit— Resources for developing and implementing oral health programs in rural communities (Rural Health Information Hub)
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis affects about 54 million people in the United States. Risk increases with advanced age. Understanding risk for osteoporosis can help older adults take an active role in protecting bone health.
Briefs
- Understanding Osteoporosis — Prevention strategies (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, 2022)
Physical Activity
Physical activity for older adults may improve blood pressure, enhance mood, strengthen bones and muscles, reduce risk of falls, and provide opportunities for socialization. Safe movement is important for more than just burning calories.
Fact Sheets
- Health Benefits of Physical Activity for Older Adults— Resources on benefits of physical activity for adults 65 years and older (CDC, 2024)
- Get Active With DASH— Fact sheet on health benefits of physical activity (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2020)
- Physical Activity is What the Doctor Ordered — Infographic (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)
- What’s Your Move— Physical activity fact sheet (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)
Reports
- Midcourse Report: Implementation Strategies for Older Adults— Guidelines that highlight strategies to increase physical activity among older adults in key settings and reinforce the amount and types of activity needed (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, 2023)
Tools & Toolkits
- Healthy Aging in Parks Initiative (YouTube)— Evidence-based program (National Recreation and Park Association, 2020)
- Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans— Recommendations for and benefits of physical activity (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)
- Move Your Way Materials for Older Adults— Fact sheets, poster, sample social media messages, and more (Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)
- Physical Activity: Home-based Exercise Interventions for Adults Aged 65 years and Older— Summary of Community Preventive Services Task Force finding on benefits of home-based exercise interventions for older adults (The Community Guide, 2022)
- Healthy Blood Pressure for Healthy Hearts— Tip sheet on taking control for your blood pressure (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, 2019)