What does Healthy Aging mean to you? What do you need to be able to age in a healthy way?
InterFaith Works Staff reflected on these questions during a recent staff meeting. For some, healthy aging means having a solid family support system. For others, healthy aging means having freedom and flexibility. Others need financial stability; a sense of belonging and purpose; or abundant curiosity. To be able to age in a healthy way, staff exercise and eat well, talk with loved ones about their wishes, and save for retirement.
Central New York is a rapidly aging community. Onondaga County's 65 and over population increased by 29% (19,109 people) over the past decade, even as the county's under-65 population declined by 3%. Older adults now account for 18% of the county's population, up from 14% a decade ago. The older population in Syracuse grew even faster during this period, increasing by a whopping 42.8% - the third largest increase of any other area in the state. This growth was fueled by a 63% increase in the number of Black older people and a staggering 250% increase in Hispanic older people.
The mission of InterFaith Works' newly created Center for Healthy Aging is to help our community age with dignity. This population shift is unprecedented in modern history and presents us with myriad possibilities, adventures, challenges, joys, limitations, and lessons. It requires everyone - older adults, younger adults, caregivers, neighbors, leaders, and friends - to ask ourselves and each other the simple question:
What does Healthy Aging mean to you?
Then, let's get to work and make healthy aging happen for everyone. If you want to learn more about our name change and how the Center for Healthy Aging will continue to provide for our community watch the video below.
Lori Klivak, PhD
Senior Director, Center for Healthy Aging
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