Promoting healthy behaviors and lifestyle changes among older people is a crucial aspect of social work in today’s society. As the population continues to age, adopting and maintaining healthy behaviors becomes increasingly important in preventing chronic diseases, promoting mental well-being, and enhancing longevity.
Social workers play a key role in carrying out effective interventions that support healthy behaviors and lifestyle changes among people within elderly communities. By addressing the social determinants of health, advocating for policy changes, and providing personalized support, social workers can empower older adults to lead healthier and more fulfilling lives.
The importance of promoting healthy behaviors in older adults is increasing. Social workers can advocate for, and encourage people to adopt, healthy lifestyle choices. By addressing the physical, mental and emotional needs of older adults, social workers can help them bypass psychological roadblocks to achieving a better quality of life.
Social workers can play a significant role in designing interventions to promote healthy behaviors and lifestyle changes within elderly communities. Their knowledge of the social determinants of health can play a vital role in addressing the needs of older adult populations.
With the ever-changing landscape of social work, it is crucial for professionals in the field to continuously enhance their knowledge and skills. The College of Social Work offers professional development training for social workers that provide invaluable opportunities for social workers to stay up-to-date with the latest research, best practice and ethical guidelines in the field. Whether you are a seasoned practitioner or just starting your career, these programs can help you excel in your role and have a meaningful impact on the lives of those you work to support.
How can you influence behaviors and lifestyle changes within elderly communities?
There has been some recent research which has revealed that the vast majority of the US population falls short of meeting current recommendations for a healthy lifestyle. Despite the abundance of information and resources available, many people struggle to prioritize their health and make sustainable lifestyle changes.
A healthy lifestyle can encompass many different aspects but, at its core, it can be defined by a few key factors. Following a healthy food pattern is essential, as it provides the necessary nutrients for overall well-being. Regular physical activity is also vital, as it helps in maintaining a strong and functioning body. Avoiding exposure to tobacco products is crucial, as they can have detrimental effects on health. While regularly getting adequate amounts of sleep and managing stress levels also play a significant role in maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
Promoting healthy behaviors in older adults is crucial for ensuring a high quality of life. With a focus on nutrition and physical activity, social workers can employ a number of strategies to promote healthy behaviors and empower elderly people to lead fulfilling and active lives.
Physical activity and its role in community health
As a key component of healthy lifestyles, physical activity is a vital health-promoting behavior. The benefits of physical activity are numerous, and it can have a positive effect on a person’s overall well-being. Some of the main benefits can include the alleviation of pain due to arthritis and other joint issues, improvement in cognitive function and a reduction in medical needs and expenses due to chronic conditions.
A number of factors have been identified as making a positive contribution to an active lifestyle and overall well-being. These include strong social ties; a sense of purpose in life; neighborhood safety; low levels of perceived stress and depression; and high levels of self-esteem.
Additionally, there is growing evidence regarding the link between physical activity and mental health. By participating in physical activity, people can improve their mood, sleep patterns and overall well-being. Social workers can focus on enhancing overall well-being by promoting physical activity and creating accessible opportunities for engagement.
Preventing and managing chronic conditions among older communities
For people whose health is already compromised, engaging in regular exercise can help manage their symptoms to make them feel better. According to the Centers for Disease Control, physical activities enhance good health and can help prevent chronic conditions, consequently promoting a better quality of life. Some of the chronic diseases that physical activities can help prevent include:
- Heart disease: Regular physical activity helps prevent and manage the complications of heart disease. This includes high blood pressure as well as stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.
- Arthritis: Arthritis is a common condition that has an impact on the joints, muscles and related tissues. Regular physical activity can help manage symptoms and can even slow down the progression of arthritis.
- Osteoporosis: Osteoporosis is a chronic condition that can lead to increased risk for fractures. Regular physical activity can help maintain bone density and reduce the risk of fractures.
- Diabetes: Physical activity can help prevent and manage diabetes. Exercises that raise heart rate, increase muscle tone and improve flexibility can help control blood sugar levels and prevent complications.
- Lung disease: Regular physical activity can help prevent and manage lung conditions, such as asthma. Exercises that are low impact and involve full body motion can help control pulmonary issues.
- Cancer: It is believed that exercise can promote a healthy immune system and reduce the risk for certain types of cancer. Regular physical activity can help promote normal breast and colon cells to prevent the chances of developing cancer.
- Asthma: Asthma is a condition in which the lung airways have an abnormal reaction to certain triggers. Regular physical activity can help control the symptoms of asthma, such as shortness of breath.
- Back pain: Back pain is a common condition associated with various health problems, including slipped discs, degenerative disc disease and herniated discs. Regular physical activity can help improve the strength of the core muscles, help maintain a healthy weight and reduce stress levels, which can all contribute to preventing back pain.
Improving muscular strength and cognitive function
Fluid retention, low muscle tone, decreased strength and cognitive decline are symptoms that can contribute to an older person’s inability to meet their daily demands. By encouraging them to engage in regular physical activity, social workers are able to help older adults to maintain healthy independence. These activities promote improved muscle tone and strength in older adults which is essential for maintaining independence and preventing falls. They are important for endurance, flexibility, day-to-day living, and balance.
Improved cognitive function and muscular strength can also have an impact on other areas:
- Balance: Improved balance can help reduce the risk of falls and improves overall quality of life. Exercises that focus on balance include Tai Chi, walking, strength training and water exercises.
- Memory: Physical activity can be an effective way of improving memory and preventing memory loss. People can particularly focus on exercises that involve multi-tasking and coordination. Physical activity that includes working the brain through brain games – like solving crossword puzzles and playing cards – can help improve memory.
- Stress: Even though physical activity can help reduce stress levels, social workers should inform their clients of the potential benefits of incorporating physical activity as a daily routine and not as a stress reliever. Overuse injuries can occur when physical activity is combined with stress and pressure.
- Sleep: Adding physical activity to a person’s routine can help improve their sleep patterns. While physical activity does not prevent poor sleep, it can help improve sleep quality.
Strategies to increase physical activity in the community
Social workers take a comprehensive approach when promoting healthy lifestyles among older adults. They work alongside other healthcare providers – such as nurses, physicians and psychologists – to address health and wellness concerns. Social workers help their clients set goals and develop a plan for increasing their physical activity. There are several strategies they can pursue with older people.
Developing health, nutrition and exercise initiatives
Social workers help their clients explore personal goals and develop ways to reach these goals. They use a comprehensive approach that includes working with nutritionists to increase a clients’ consumption of fruits and vegetables; physical therapists to help older adults rehabilitate injuries that arise during physical activities; and exercise specialists to develop a customized exercise program that includes aerobic, resistance and flexibility exercises.
Up-to-date information is also critical to older adults. Social workers can help their clients access resources and information on healthy food, fitness and exercise, physical activity; as well as the prevention and management of chronic conditions such as osteoporosis, diabetes, heart disease, cancer and dementia.
Social workers can use a variety of strategies to promote healthy lifestyles in their communities, including:
- Using evidence-based practices when working with communities to help increase opportunities for physical activity. This includes designing and tailoring interventions in the community to meet the needs of older adults.
- Developing health and wellness initiatives in their communities by gaining broad knowledge about the health problems that exist among older adults. This knowledge is essential for designing and tailoring programs to increase physical activity.
- Examining the barriers to increasing physical activity in a community. Social workers can work alongside other healthcare professionals and community organizations to help develop practical ways to overcome these barriers.
Designing activity-friendly routes
Social workers can help older adults explore options and develop plans to increase physical activity by designing easy, accessible routes. This includes routes for walking, biking and taking public transportation. They can even encourage older adults to walk or bike to work.
Creating activity-friendly routes can easily promote biking and walking in a community. When trails, bicycle lanes, and sidewalks easily connect with grocery stores, workplaces, schools and transit stops, people will feel more encouraged to be active. Routes that are activity-friendly to popular destinations can make traveling more accessible and safer, while promoting biking and walking. This can allow people of all ability levels to exercise and get fresh air while accessing their destinations.
Social workers can advocate for the creation of routes that promote accessibility. An ideal starting point would be creating routes that connect residential neighborhoods, healthcare facilities and schools. Paths to other destinations like parks, workplaces and grocery stores can come in later. The goal is to promote healthy, active lifestyles.
Establishing community gardens
Social workers can work with the local government to create community gardens. Residents can grow flowers, vegetables and fruits in community gardens to promote healthy lifestyles in rural, suburban and urban areas. These gardens are common in many neighborhoods and can provide residents with the opportunity to interact, eat healthy fruits, reduce stress, socialize and engage in physical activity.
Gardening provides a wide range of benefits including:
- Proven health benefits such as improving immune systems and promoting healthy digestion.
- Providing psychological benefits including an increased sense of personal empowerment and self-esteem.
- Reducing stress and improving sleep.
- Improving nutrition through residents eating local produce.
- Increasing mental acuity and cognitive function and exercising the mind.
Finding exercise opportunities
Social workers can help older adults find fitness programs that meet their specific needs and interests. They can help them find an activity that is comfortable, safe and enjoyable. Some of the types of exercise they may be able to partake in, include:
- walking or jogging;
- swimming;
- biking;
- yoga;
- fitness classes such as Zumba, aerobics and cycling classes.
Developing new approaches to care delivery
The key to successful care delivery is having clients voice their needs and goals. Social workers can work with their clients to develop a process for identifying health goals in the aging process. They must show commitment with the older adults by helping them set goals, figure out how to achieve these goals, and help them succeed. They can also help their clients identify barriers that might prevent them from reaching their health goals.
Social workers can also help older adults create the daily routines they need to maintain healthy lifestyles. They can help older adults find new resources and options to help them become physically active. For example, they can advocate for more physical activity programs in long-term care facilities where many older adults live. Active aging programs may include low-impact exercises such as walking, yoga and stretching. Goal-oriented exercise can increase strength, coordination and flexibility, as well as help in weight management and balance training.
Addressing disparities and inequities
Finding the reason for age-related health disparities is complicated. It is difficult to determine why some older adults are less healthy than others. In some cases, age-related health disparities are the result of socioeconomic factors that limit opportunities for physical activity in older adults. However, other factors may be involved such as race, ethnicity, gender and family history.
Social workers can help older adults gain access to a broad range of services that are necessary for them to live a healthy lifestyle. They can help by developing new models of care delivery and working with their communities to increase physical activity levels.
Social workers can help older adults gain access to the services they need to stay active by:
- Creating health-related services and programs that are accessible to all older adults.
- Working with their communities and local government to develop programs to improve the living conditions in their communities.
- Working with local government to make healthy options available in their communities.
- Promoting community health by engaging in physical activities together.
- Supporting their communities and encouraging them to follow public health guidelines.
Strengthening the role of public health
Physical activity is an important part of healthy aging. It is also a key part of public health and it should be a priority in the US nationwide. The Congress should fund and mobilize the local, state and Centers for Disease Control (CDC) health agencies to make healthy aging an indispensable component of public health. Social workers can participate in interagency working groups and advocate for quality of care. They can also make it possible for older adults to become active and advocate for the development of healthy aging programs through local public health agencies.
Participate in promoting healthy living among older adults
Physical activity and healthy aging allows older adults to maintain a high level of functioning, self-care and quality of life while remaining independent for as long as possible. Physical activity and exercise are important in preventing numerous chronic diseases. Social workers can develop more opportunities for people to be physically active which will prevent future health problems.
Social workers can use their influence and promote healthy aging. Prevention and intervention is essential as the older population increases. Through their work in the community, with private service providers, local government and public policy makers, social workers have the ability to ensure that healthy aging is possible for all people
As social workers encounter new challenges and navigate complex social issues, it is important they continuously enhance their skills and knowledge. Professional development training for social workers provides a platform for learning and growth, enabling them to sharpen their expertise, expand their professional networks and, ultimately, have a greater impact in their communities. Take action today to promote healthy aging in older adults by considering pursuing a social work program.
