Tips for Staying Connected, Active and Healthy as You Age
By Robert Mirsky, M.D., Chief Medical Officer for Aetna Medicare

We all know eating healthy and staying active are important to maintaining physical well-being. But sometimes we overlook how important staying socially connected is to our overall well-being — especially as we age. Believe it or not, social isolation can negatively impact your health as much as smoking 15 cigarettes a day (1).

While social connection is a critical determinant of health, it can be a significant issue for older adults. Older adults are particularly vulnerable to social isolation because their established relationships and communities may change over time. For example, their children grow up and move away or friends relocate, or they begin experiencing mobility issues. In fact, according to CVS Health’s Path to Better Health Study (2), 1 in 4 people aged 65 and older no longer have friends or family nearby and don’t know where to meet new people. The study also found that older adults start losing their motivation to be social.

As a family physician, I’ve always considered social and emotional health, as well as the physical health of my patients. Now, as Chief Medical Officer for Aetna Medicare, I’m committed to supporting total health — body, mind and spirit — and helping seniors live the life they want to live at home and in their communities. Here are some tips to help you and your loved ones accomplish this.

Get Connected

An important way to address social isolation is to get connected. If you or your loved one wants to be more social, try to participate in new groups or activities you’ve previously enjoyed or have always wanted to try. If you were part of a chess club in school, see if your local community center hosts a board game night.

You can also look for opportunities to deepen your involvement in existing activities and groups. For example, if you are part of a religious community, see if there are volunteer opportunities.

Use technology to reconnect with friends and family or to learn about local events. If you need help using a social media platform, see if your local library offers programs or lessons that can help.

Alternatively, check to see if your Medicare Advantage plan offers Papa, Inc. or a similar program. Recently, Aetna and other insurers introduced a new collaboration with Papa, Inc. that connects local college students with older adults who need companionship as well as help with household chores and technology. The program‘s impact is two-fold – students can help seniors and seniors can share their wisdom and experiences.

Get Active

A good way to get active and meet (as well as stay connected with) new people is through group classes at your local gym or fitness center. Most Aetna Individual Medicare Advantage plans offer SilverSneakers® (3), a fitness program that allows access to over 15,000 gyms and community locations across the country. In addition to traditional gym settings, SilverSneakers also hosts classes “Beyond the Gym,” at community centers, churches and parks, and offers online classes. Participation in SilverSneakers has been shown to improve health outcomes by reducing loneliness and isolation by 20-25 percent.(4)

Looking for other ways to get active and connected? Start by making a list of physical activities that you enjoy doing with others like hiking, aerobics or golf. If you’re no longer able to participate in a sport or activity you once loved due to mobility or health restraints, see if you can participate in a modified version. My dad enjoyed playing tennis but growing older meant changing how he participated in the game. Even though he could no longer play a full game, he still stopped by the tennis courts to watch, exercise and socialize with friends.

If you’re still not sure where to start, check to see if your Medicare Advantage plan has benefits that can directly connect you with your local community. For example, Aetna offers a program called Resources For LivingSM (5). Our consultants can provide information about various resources within your community to help kickstart your journey. They can put you in touch with local senior centers and social clubs or transportation, if getting to the activity is an issue.

Get Healthy

Being healthy impacts your ability to be social and active. For example, Aetna Medicare member Betty engaged her care manager, Sarah, to help with health challenges related to her diabetes. Along the way, Sarah shared other programs offered through Betty’s plan to help her reconnect with the community. Thanks to SilverSneakers and the “Sweet 60s,” a community group for social events, Betty transformed from a self-proclaimed homebody into a social butterfly, and her overall health improved, too.

Fortunately, for people like Betty who struggle with chronic health issues such as diabetes, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services expanded what benefits could be considered health-related, and in 2020, select Medicare Advantage plans may offer their chronically ill members added benefits. For example, if you have diabetes, your Medicare Advantage plan may now cover a diabetes education program or a visit to a nutritionist. For others, it could mean meal delivery, transportation for non-medical needs like grocery shopping and home support services.

As you continue in your health journey, remember to consider your total health. It’s my hope that as you age, you continue to thrive — both at home and in your community — with reliable support that helps you feel safe and maintain a sense of purpose.

 

1. Holt-Lunstad, J., Smith, T. B., & Layton, J. B. (2010). Social relationships and mortality risk: a meta-analytic review. Plos Medicine, 7(7), e1000316-e1000316. doi: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1000316

2. Learn more about the study at https://cvshealth.com/thought-leadership/path-to-better-health-study

3. SilverSneakers is a registered trademark of Tivity Health, Inc. © 2019 Tivity Health, Inc. All rights reserved.

4. Brady, Samantha & D’Ambrosio, Lisa & Felts, Adam & Rula, Elizabeth & Kell, Kenneth & Coughlin, Joseph. (2018). Reducing Isolation and Loneliness Through Membership in a Fitness Program for Older Adults: Implications for Health. Journal of Applied Gerontology. 073346481880782. 10.1177/0733464818807820.

5. Aetna Resources For LivingSM is the brand name used for products and services offered through the Aetna group of subsidiary companies (Aetna). The EAP is administered by Aetna Behavioral Health, LLC. and in California for Knox-Keene plans, Aetna Health of California, Inc. and Health and Human Resources Center, Inc.




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