Article by the Fairfax County Health Department
(Posted 2022 December)
With the new year just around the corner, it’s time to make your resolutions. Here are some ways that you can prioritize your health in 2023.
Keep up with your check-ups. Annual doctors' visits are for all of us. Regular check-ups can detect signs of illness or disease early.
Get screened. Five health screenings are vital to maintaining overall health and fitness: eye exam, hearing test, blood pressure check, bone density scan, and cancer screenings (breast, prostrate, and colon cancer).
Stay up to date on your vaccines. Vaccines are important at every age and with advancing age, people become more susceptible to certain illnesses. Stay protected by getting the vaccines recommended for you. Flu shots, shingles vaccine, and pneumonia vaccine will help protect your health. Learn more about vaccines for adults at FairfaxCounty.gov/health/immunization/adult.
Stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines. Everyone 50 and older is eligible for a second COVID-19 booster dose. Get the primary vaccine series AND booster doses to stay protected against serious illness. Find a vaccine at vaccines.gov.
Stay active. There are so many ways to stay physically active in Fairfax County. Visit a Fairfax County Park, swim laps or join a fitness group. Fairfax County Senior Centers also offer a variety of virtual and in-person indoor classes for residents over age 50. Learn more about eligibility and membership fees by visiting FairfaxCounty.gov and searching “Senior Centers.” No time to drive to a center? No problem. The Park Authority’s Healthy Strides program offers many virtual fitness classes via Zoom. Visit FairfaxCounty.gov/parks/healthy-strides for more information.
Stay connected: According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, loneliness and social isolation in older adults are serious public health risks that can put them at risk for dementia, heart disease, depression, obesity, and other serious medical conditions. Although it’s hard to measure social isolation and loneliness, data shows that many adults aged 50 and older are socially isolated or lonely. Recent studies found that:
- Social isolation significantly increased a person’s risk of premature death from all causes, a risk that may rival those of smoking, obesity, and physical inactivity.
- Social isolation was associated with about a 50% percent increased risk of dementia.
- Poor social relationships (characterized by social isolation or loneliness) were associated with a 29% increased risk of heart disease and a 32% increased risk of stroke.
- Loneliness was associated with higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide.
- Loneliness among heart failure patients was associated with a nearly 4 times increased risk of death, 68% increased risk of hospitalization, and 57% increased risk of emergency department visits.
Need more information on how to stay connected? Find information and tips from the National Institute on Aging at nia.nih.gov/health/loneliness-and-social-isolation-tips-staying-connected.
This article is part of the Golden Gazette monthly newsletter which covers a variety of topics and community news concerning older adults and caregivers in Fairfax County. Are you new to the Golden Gazette? Don’t miss out on future newsletters! Subscribe to get the electronic or free printed version mailed to you. Have a suggestion for a topic? Share it in an email or call 703-324-GOLD (4653).