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BC Place – Session 5, Wednesday, May 31, 2006 from 08:30 – 10:00
Abstract Title:
Healthy Aging Through Healthy Living
Presenting Author:
Tessa Graham, MA, BA
Executive Director
Healthy Children, Women and Seniors Branch
BC Ministry of Health
4th Floor, 1515 Blanshard Street
Victoria BC V8W 3C8Matt Herman, MSc, BSc(Hons)
Injury Prevention Manager
Healthy Children, Women and Seniors Branch
Donelda Eve, BJ
Manager, Healthy Again
Healthy Children, Women and Seniors Branch
Additional Authors:
Andrew Hazlewood
Assistant Deputy Minister
Population Health and Wellness
BC Ministry of Health
4th Floor, 1515 Blanshard Street
Victoria, BC V8W 3C8
Background:
British Columbia has one of the most rapidly aging populations in Canada. By 2031, 24 percent of British Columbia’s population will be over the age of 65. A discussion paper Healthy Aging Through Healthy Living: Towards a comprehensive policy and planning framework for Seniors in BC was released in October 2005 and provided the evidence base to initiate the development of a healthy aging framework. The paper details five key priority issues that researchers have identified as crucial to healthy aging, namely: healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco reduction, injury prevention and social connectedness.
Objectives:
To present the evidence on seniors’ healthy living and report on the outcomes of the healthy aging expert panel meeting held in March 2006.
Methods:
Experts on healthy aging were brought together in March 2006 to come to a consensus on the priority issues for health aging of BC seniors. The most current data from Statistics Canada’s Canadian Community Health Survey (Cycle 2.1, 2003; Cycle 2.2, 2004) was used to provide an insight into the personal health practices on BC seniors. The panel set the agenda for regional consultations on the development of a provincial healthy aging framework.
Results:
Significant healthy lifestyle priorities were identified for BC seniors to enable the achievement of healthy aging.
Conclusions:
Encouraging seniors to lead healthy lifestyles can prevent, minimize or even reverse frailty and poor health, resulting in a better quality of life for BC seniors and savings to the health care system.