Giving back to the community important in healthy ageing

University of the Sunshine Coast's Dr Daniel Wadsworth said being embedded in the community can help older adults with healthy ageing, staving off a range of health issues including dementia, depression and some heart conditions.

Healthy ageing includes developing and maintaining abilities that enable wellbeing into old age, as defined by the World Health Organisation.

"No time is too late to start," said Dr Wadsworth.

Trying to reach 30 minutes of daily exercise can be daunting, so Dr Wadsworth recommends breaking this block of movement time into smaller workouts throughout the day.

Remembering that any exercise is "better than nothing."

Older Australians are encouraged to try exercises based around cardio (aerobics and walking), balance, muscle strength and weight training to maintain mobility.

These exercises typically build stamina that can be transferred to other everyday activities, like practising weighted bicep curls to improve strength for carrying grocery bags.

"We shouldn't disregard the incidental activities we do around the home," he said.

When we credit everyday movement as being a health improvement tool, more positive health outcomes are likely, Dr Wadsworth said.

Acknowledging the importance of everyday, incidental movement causes more effort and mindfulness to go into exercising, he said.

Most Australians understand the positive physiological and mental effects exercise can have on health.

But there are a number of reasons exercise can be unapproachable, including pain, disability and mental barriers like self-confidence.

Dr Wadsworth recommends reframing exercise as a practice to engage with the community and solidify a sense of purpose.

Engaging with grandchildren or walking with friends can create a connection with the community while building strength and balance doing incidental exercise, he said.

Older Australians should look at how they can enjoy their life more comprehensively.

"It's not the years of your life but the life in your years," said Dr Wadsworth.

Train to improve range of movement to maintain independence, confidence and purpose, he said.

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Understanding personal health needs is crucial to making good wellness choices, Dr Wadsworth said.

"Self awareness allows older Australians to embrace the ageing process," he said.

Older Australians with the autonomy and flexibility to manage personal health behaviours are more able to navigate ageing.

Communities also have a meaningful impact on the way ageing is framed in society, the researcher said.

The social construction of what ageing means can be based on negative stereotypes, including frailty, immobility and disengagement, he said.

This can be reinforced by family members, healthcare workers and members of the general public, he said.

"There is actually a lot of life and vitality in aged care homes," Dr Wadsworth said.

"Part of healthy ageing is being able to give back to the community."

Building a positive self-image can encourage older Australians to share their wisdom with younger generations and create communities to connect and care for each other, he said.