Age Well with WIHA

Age Well: Dimensions of Wellness

We all want to age well. To be free of chronic diseases and sicknesses. To feel strong and independent. But what does it take to get there? 

Wellness is an all-encompassing term. Individual health may be broken up into different categories, known as the 8 Dimensions of Wellness. To age well, it is important to pay attention to each dimension. No dimension needs to have perfect health, but if one dimension is severely lacking, that can have a big effect on our health. It is best to pay attention to each dimension as we age.

Read more about how to age well through the 8 Dimensions of Wellness on our Age Well page.

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Spring Cleaning and Home Safety

Research shows that most falls happen at home. Is spring cleaning on your to-do list? Take some time this spring to de-clutter and make your home safer to prevent falls. On top of everyday items like dirty laundry or mail, over the years things can pile up! It’s important to keep walkways, staircases, and other areas where you walk tidy. Here are a few ideas to help get you started: 

• Make it fun! Put on your favorite music or radio show as you clean. 
• Develop a filing system so that you can keep important documents in one place and off counters and floors. 
• Don’t do it all at once. Set aside 15 minutes each day to de-clutter in different areas. Start with clutter on the floors or staircases, as you may be more likely to catch your feet and trip in these areas.  
• Make it a habit to take a minute or two to clean up as you go instead of waiting for things to pile up.  

Use our Cleaning Tool to help you reduce clutter and stay organized. 

Other things to look for include keeping cords out of walkways, having good lighting, replacing throw rugs or mats that have turned-up edges or slippery bottoms with heavy-backed, non-slip rubber bottoms (or getting rid of them altogether), and keeping an eye on pets underfoot. 

Check out our interactive Home Safety Challenge for additional tips to stay safe at home. The Home Safety Challenge is an interactive tour of a real Wisconsin home, where you’ll search for common things that may lead to a fall and learn how to reduce your risk. When you’re finished, download and print the Home Safety Checklist and check things off the list as you look through your own home or apartment. 

Find more tips and tricks to stay safe and prevent falls at FallsFreeWI.org. 

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Featured Program: Walk with Ease

Research: Walk with Ease is researched and shown to reduce the pain and discomfort of arthritis, increase balance, strength, and walking pace, build confidence in your ability to be physically activity, and improve overall health. 

Who is it for: Walk with Ease is designed for any adult who has arthritis and wants to reduce pain, and/or those who want to be more physically active.

How to participate: You can participate in Walk with Ease in-person, at a distance, or on your own! Find a workshop near you or Order a Guidebook and follow the program.

“I was afraid to walk very far because of my knee pain. Walk with Ease helped me start slow and build up gradually. Now I am confident in my ability to walk easily without making my arthritis worse.“

Past Participant

In this Issue

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