Active Aging Week is held the first Monday in October. The dates were chosen to coincide as close as the calendar permits to October 1, the International Day of Older Persons. In 2022, Active Aging Week will be held October 3-October 9.

What is active aging week?

Active Aging Week – October 3-9, 2022. U.S. The International Council on Active Aging began the first Active Aging Week in 2003. This week is meant to celebrate how positive the process of aging can truly be. Active Aging week encourages adults over the age of 50 to take advantage of all that life has to offer.

Why Active Aging week is Important? 

From a healthcare perspective active, aging helps to promote healthy living, and hence extend life expectancy and quality of life for all people (including those who are frail, disabled and in need of care) as they age.

1.Active Aging Week encourages older adults to get moving

For some older adults who reside in assisted living communities. or have mobility issues, just getting out and about can present quite a challenge. Active Aging Week highlights all of the different ways that someone can participate in simple exercise. There truly is something for everyone.

2. Active Aging Week creates a sense of community

We're much more likely to accomplish our goals if we have other people helping to keep us accountable. Active Aging week helps bring communities of adults together to work towards a common wellness cause. Some groups have even taken on yearlong walking initiatives!

3. International coverage

Australia, India, Ireland, Canada, and the U.S. all participate in Active Aging Week. It's inspiring to think about such a large collection of people working towards the shared goal of active aging.

What are the 9 principles of active aging?

1. Populations. The diverse population of older adults requires diverse   

solutions.

2. Perceptions. Ageism and negative stereotypes of aging impede an inclusive society.

3. People. Trained and committed individuals are needed to meet the needs of older adults.

4. Potential. Population aging is creating new economies.

5. Products. Products and services are needed that tailor to older adult needs.

6. Promotions. Older adults are a key market to attract.

7. Places. Environments must be constructed to enable multiple functional abilities.

8. Policies. The human rights of older adults should be protected.

9. Programs. The seven dimensions of wellness anchor the principles.

5 Things to know about Active Aging

• ​More women than men. About 57% of older adults in the U.S. are women. ​

• ​We lose bones. We usually have 350 different bones at birth, but as we ease into adulthood bones fuse together. Ultimately, we end up with only 206 bones. ​

• ​Now that's a long life. The oldest human recorded in history, Jeanne Louise Calment, was born in France and lived to be 122 years old.

• Is staying active the Fountain of Youth? Research has found that staying active can slow down the aging process.

• No sweat. Some studies have shown that we sweat less as we age. ​

Active aging week challenges society's diminished expectations of aging by showing that, regardless of age or health conditions, adults over 50 can live as fully as possible in all areas of life- physical, social, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, vocational and environmental.