Age Well with WIHA

A newsletter from the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging

Age Well with WIHA: September/October 2024

WIHA’s newsletter is published bi-monthly and sent by email. View the email newsletter online or read the full stories below. Don’t forget to subscribe!

Age with Confidence, Prevent Falls

Did you know September is Falls Prevention Awareness Month (FPAM)! Chances are you or someone you know has experienced a fall. If you have, you’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1 in 4 older adults have a fall each year and 1 out of every 10 falls causes an injury. The good news is that falls are preventable!  

There are things you can do to reduce your risk and age with confidence. At FallsFreeWI.org you’ll find strategies you can use in your everyday life. Learn some simple balance and strength exercises, go through an interactive Home Safety Challenge where you can identify hazards and helpful tips to make your home safer, find information about how things like medications, footwear, vision, and hearing can affect your risk of falling, and more! 

Every year, organizations throughout Wisconsin, including the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging, convener of the Falls Free® Wisconsin Coalition, spend September raising awareness about the impact of falls, and how you can prevent them. This month, find a falls prevention awareness event near you. Events held throughout the state include activities like free balance and hearing screenings, educational speakers, tips from local experts, giveaways, and more.

Though September is Falls Prevention Awareness Month, falls prevention should be practiced year-round. Learn more by attending a Stepping On workshop, an evidence-based program proven to reduce falls by 31%! Workshops are held throughout the year all across the state. Find A Workshop near you! 

Event Calendar:

Active & Engaged

What You Can Do for Your Health & Well-Being

Maintaining physical activity and social engagement becomes progressively important as we age. Regular exercise can help manage chronic conditions, improve mobility, and enhance the overall quality of life. Additionally, staying socially engaged can combat feelings of loneliness and depression.  

Active Aging Week was launched by the International Council of Active Aging to promote and celebrate the benefits of living an active and engaged lifestyle, specifically for older adults. This is held each year on the first Monday of October, starting this year’s celebration on September 30 to October 6.  

Active Aging week is filled with activities catered to a variety of interests and fitness levels. Here’s a look at some events that you might enjoy:  

  1. Fitness Classes – Join a class such as indoor cycling, high-low, strength training, yoga, tai chi, water aerobics, or more. There are many classes available at a variety of fitness levels.  
  2. Walking Groups – Participate in a Walk with Ease workshop or walk with a group of people around your community or local parks. This is a relaxing way to get some physical activity and engage in socialization.  
  3. Healthy Cooking – Attend a cooking class or try a new recipe that focuses on preparing nutritional and delicious meals.
  4. Health Screenings: Locate a free health screening near you. These checks can help catch early issues and can help you stay on top of your health. 
  5. Educational Workshops: Engage in workshops about managing health conditions, preventing falls, and approving mental wellness. Find a workshop near you!
  6. Social Events: Attend a local drive through movie showing or dance social. These events are great for socializing and making new friends.  
  7. Creative Arts: Explore your artistic side by creating art, music, or doing crafts. Engaging in these activities can be relaxing and great for your brain.  

Visit the Active Aging Week website and enter your zip code to find more local events.

Participating in the activities of Active Aging Week can have huge benefits to your health. Not only will you boost your physical health, but also boost your emotional and mental well-being. Active Aging Week is a reminder that aging is not about slowing down, but about embracing the beautiful journey of aging and taking care of your health and well-being. So, remember that even though Active Aging Week is only one week, we celebrate aging all year round! To learn more about aging well, visit our Age Well page.

In this Issue

Age Well Series

The Age Well series is a set of presentations designed to bring you information about how to age well! This past month we had a fantastic presentations on Making a Will. View the recordings below or visit the Age Well Series page to find out more information about each event and download the slides.

Upcoming Events

September: Click the flyer below for more information.

October: Nutrition

November: Building Blocks of Connection

Stay tuned for details.

September is Chronic Pain Awareness Month. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2016, approximately 50 million adults in the United States were experiencing chronic pain. Finding a way to manage chronic pain can be important.  

There are self-management skills that can help you get your life back and find ways to manage the pain. If you have chronic pain, healthy eating may mean that you need to be more selective with the foods that you eat and the amount you eat. Eating a variety of foods, especially vegetables and fruits, can help decrease your pain. Also, having good sleep habits such as having a regular rest and sleep schedule, making sure that you have a comfortable bed, and that the room is a comfortable temperature can help. Next, learning the signals that your body is sending you that you are overdoing an activity can be important. You may need to modify an activity or balance the activity with rest to help manage your pain. Finally, planning regular exercise is important to control chronic pain. Moderate exercise can be accomplished in short periods to help lessen pain, improve functioning, and boost your mood.  

Different pain management strategies will not necessarily eliminate your pain. However, the strategies may help you better control your pain. Healthy Living with Chronic Pain is an evidenced-based workshop designed to explore ways to better manage your chronic pain and help you build a “pain management toolbox.” This small group workshop covers a variety of topics including physical and emotional well-beings, healthy eating, better sleep, and better communication.

Learn more about Healthy Living with Chronic Pain

Research: Healthy Living with Chronic Pain is researched and shown to improve confidence in pain management, lessen pain and dependence on others, improve mental health, improve energy, reduce pain, improve understanding of pain and coping skills.

Who is it for: Healthy Living with Chronic Pain is designed for any adult who has or who lives with someone with chronic pain.

How to participate: You can participate in Healthy Living with Chronic Pain in-person, at a distance, or on your own! Find a workshop near you!

“Habit building -like you have to stick with it and re-enforce it. Even when you’re doing well, you have to reassess, so you are not necessarily getting away from the good habits you have built. Learning to always be accountable to yourself.”

Dawn Gruber

Racine County

Find a Workshop

Take charge of your health by taking a WIHA workshop. We offer in-person and virtual (online or by phone) programs that give you the tools to age well. Getting started is easy – simply click the link below.

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