Age Well with WIHA

Tips to Prevent Falls and Stay Independent as You Age

Check out this 2-minute video from the director of the National Institute on Aging to learn what current research says we can do to live a longer, healthier life.

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National Healthcare Decisions Day

While we cannot plan for everything, we can have conversations about what matters most in our lives and our healthcare with the people who mean the most to us. For the last ten years, April 16th has been recognized as National Healthcare Decisions Day. This national campaign encourages individuals of all ages to communicate their preferences for future medical treatment. Through these discussions, individuals can complete advance care directives; legal documents that outline their preferences for future medical treatment and ensure all wishes are honored. These documents also allow you to designate a healthcare proxy, someone to speak on your behalf and advocate for the care that is best for you if you are unable to communicate. 

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement and the Conversation Project have created the Your Conversation Started Guide to help people begin – and continue – the conversation about their wishes. The first step is to reflect on what matters most to you and what your wishes are for care throughout your life. The second step is to consider how you might feel about potential situations that could occur, both now and in the future.

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Self-Care Habits Through Aging

Self-care is more than just a trend, it’s a way of preventing negative health outcomes, both physical and mental. It can also act as a buffer to the effects of pre-existing conditions. The frequency of self-care practices can increase memory performance, as well as attention. While self-care practices are important throughout adulthood, it’s just as important to continue as we age. 

What are the benefits of self-care?  

1. Acts as an agent against diseases  
2. It’s a form of promoting healthy lifestyle choices 
3. A way to care for yourself outside of traditional medical practitioner services   
4. Promotes resilience and individualism: take control of your body and mind!  

How can I practice self-care?  

There are many different ways you can engage in these practices, but the most important is doing what works for you. If a recommended practice doesn’t work for you, that’s okay! It may take a few times trying different things but do what’s best for you.  

Where to start?

If you’re looking for a place to start, WIHA programs are a great place! They offer practical strategies to help you care for yourself.

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Featured Program: Healthy Living with Diabetes

Healthy Living with Diabetes is an interactive workshop designed to improve health and well-being for people with diabetes or pre-diabetes. This 6-session workshop meets once per week for 6 weeks. The workshop offers tools and resources focused on mental, physical, and emotional well-being to expand your understanding of living with diabetes. Learn how to take control of your health and return to doing what matters most to you with a Healthy Living with Diabetes workshop!

Research: Healthy Living with Diabetes is researched and shown to improve A1C levels, reduce emergency room visits by 53%, improve how well someone thinks they can manage their diabetes, and improve how healthy one feels.

Who is it for: Healthy Living with Diabetes is designed for people who have Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, prediabetes, or who live with someone with diabetes.

How to participate: You can participate in Healthy Living with Diabetes workshop in-person or virtually. Find a workshop near you.

“My eating was already pretty good, it just helped me understand better, between portion sizes and portion control. And just being more aware of what I am eating and aware that I should be eating more vegetables. And then how to put things together like protein and a carbohydrate. Now I am able to keep those things in mind when making my food choices, which before I didn’t.” 

Gloria

Eau Claire County, WI

In this Issue

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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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Diabetes Alert Day

March 25, 2025 is Diabetes Alert Day. This day seeks to raise awareness of how lifestyle habits and choices can affect a person’s overall health. According to the American Diabetes Association, “diabetes is a condition where the body’s blood glucose (blood sugar) levels are higher than normal (hyperglycemia) resulting from the body’s inability to use or store blood glucose for energy.” The American Diabetes Association estimates that around 477,700 Wisconsin residents have been diagnosed with diabetes. 

You are at a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes if you have a family history, are overweight, or are not physically active. The earlier you recognize your risk, the sooner you can take action to prevent or manage diabetes. The American Diabetes Association offers a simple and quick Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test to see if you are at risk of developing type 2 diabetes. While this risk test is not a replacement for consulting with your healthcare provider and having regular health checkups, it can serve as a useful tool. Research has shown that prediabetes can be reversed. Diabetes can be managed effectively through drinking water, avoiding sugary drinks, being physically active each day, making healthy food choices, and losing excess weight.