Promoting Healthy Ageing: Community-Level Approaches and Lifestyle Factors

Introduction

Ageing is referred to the process of change in the structural and functional ability of the body with time. In this essay, the concept of healthy ageing and the promotion of ageing at community level through evince-based practice is to be discussed. Thereafter, experience regarding ageing and factors influencing ageing is to be explained.

Section 1

The concept of healthy ageing is surviving to specific age with time without the presence of chronic or acute disease, enhanced autonomous ability to execute everyday activities, enhanced social participation, little to no disability and mild cognitive or functional impairment that arises with age (Campisi et al., 2019). The importance of healthy ageing is that it helps older adults to have reduced risk of health complication which makes them lower expenses for health services and live longer (Cabeza et al., 2018). According to Daskalopoulou et al., (2017), enhanced daily physical activity and exercise promotes health ageing. This is because regular exercise or activity leads the muscles and bones of the body remain flexible, reduces scope of physical and mental disability out of enhanced energy control within the body. The daily physical activity in elderly people leads them to prevent unnecessary pain due to sedentary action and retain enhanced balance to avoid fall (Manferdelli et al., 2021). The older people are to be allowed to exercise according their choice which is supported by trainer so that they do not get unnecessarily injured during the activity as with ageing the muscles and bones of the people become frail (Hawley-Hague et al., 2016). As asserted by Daskalopoulou et al., (2018), any nature of addiction such as smoking, or drinking is to be avoided for healthy ageing. This is because cigarette smoke and alcohol have harmful chemicals that adversely affect the functioning of the body leads to the development of diseases such as cancer, fatty liver and others that are no aspect of healthy ageing.

The presence of balanced diet and intake of healthy food along with adequate water also promotes healthy ageing. This is because balanced diet leads the individuals to intake adequate nutrients and minerals needed by the body for its enhanced functioning. Moreover, adequate water intake leads the body to remain hydrated and refreshed leading to maintain skin elasticity and supporting enhanced functioning of different organs (Robinson, 2018). In contrast, the study by Sanchez-Niubo et al., (2021) mentions that adequate sleeping is essential part of healthy ageing. This is because uninterrupted and adequate sleeping leads the brain and body to relax as well as process information to memorise effectively leading to promote enhanced cognitive and mental efficiency even with age that are indications of healthy ageing. The individuals are to maintain effective dental hygiene for healthy ageing. This is because regular brushing and flossing of teeth leads to avoid development of gum diseases and ensure enhanced dental health (Yeung, 2018).

Section 2

The biopsychological factors which influence healthy ageing are enhanced biological health, improved mood and emotional control, enhanced social behaviour, stable economic condition and others (Marsman et al., 2018). It is evident as enhanced biological health with no complication of body functioning and structural abnormality in the body leads individuals with age to have stable physical health with little to no complication been faced with health management (Cabeza et al., 2018). As mentioned by Thomas et al., (2020), enhanced economic stability lead individuals with age to have adequate money in meeting health as well as everyday needs and demands. This support healthy ageing as hindered mental functioning such as anxiety and depression for future is avoided. As argued by Worker et al., (2018), mood disorder and hindered mental condition leads to unhealthy ageing. This is because the people with age unable to have stable mental efficiency in taking decision to lead their life in enhanced manner.

The stable social condition in which the aged individuals can freely interact with friends and family leads them to age in healthy way. This is because it promotes enhanced emotional health in them as well as access assistance regarding health to live without worrying of being lonely (Calder et al., 2018). The spirituality in people increases with age and enhanced support to meet the spiritual beliefs of the people leads to healthy ageing. This is because it promotes positive attitude in them that they are valued and feel strength gained from the prayers contribute to their well-being with age (Egan & Blank, 2021). In many cultures, the elderly with age are considered as the head of the family and respected for the experience of life they developed over the years. It makes the elderly to age in healthy way as their rights of respect and being with care are fulfilled by the family members (Marsman et al., 2018).

Section 3

The nurses by educating the elderly regarding the way to maintain healthy lifestyle and its importance promote healthy ageing among individuals. This is because the aged people understand the way they are managing their behaviour and lifestyle so that they can avoid development of adverse disease and health complications leading them to experience enhanced well-being (Burnes et al., 2019). As argued by Seah et al. (2019), nurses avoiding communicating effectively and maintain enhanced health documentation of patients promote hindered ageing. This is because without effective communication the nurses are unable to determine the health need and support demands of the patient regarding their health that are to be fulfilled in promoting their good health and well-being with age. The delivery of person-centred care also promotes healthy ageing in individuals by the nurses because it leads the nurses to understand the specific needs of the patient to be fulfilled and keep the patient in the centre of the care decision to make them feel valued. The nurse to allow older people make own care choices are to provide their information of care available for them and its importance for their health so that they can analyse the information to choose the nature of care preferred by them (Burnes et al., 2019).

Conclusion

The above discussion informs that healthy ageing is lack of health complication with enhanced lifestyle management. The factors such as enhanced economic condition, education regarding carer and others influence healthy ageing. The evidence-based nursing practise to promote healthy ageing are person-centred care, showing of empathy and respect to elderly, developing effective communication with the patients and others.

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