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Seniors BC

Active Aging in British Columbia

"Population Aging is one of humanity's greatest triumphs. It is also one of our greatest challenges."

Seniors in British Columbia – A Healthy Living Framework (the Framework), is the Province’s action plan for the aging population. Within that framework, the Ministry of Health has adopted a comprehensive approach to supporting active aging for older British Columbians – engaging partners from other agencies, community organizations, and individuals, supporting leadership and participation of older adults, and providing tools and resources to support healthy lifestyle choices.

Active Aging in British Columbia also supports ActNow BC, with a significant focus on seniors’ physical activity, along with healthy eating and tobacco reduction.

Why Support Active Aging?

“Making healthy living choices improves quality of life, and helps defer or avoid health care costs. The Province will promote healthy living for older people, to support longer, healthier lives.”

Populations are aging the world over, and British Columbia is no exception. By 2031, more than 1.3 million British Columbians will be over 65 - almost a quarter of the population. There is an increasingly urgent need to adapt communities in a manner that will benefit older people’s health, enable them to remain healthy, active and independent, and continue to contribute their skills, knowledge and experience to society.

There are many factors that shape the way people age, but much of it is influenced by behaviour. Illness, disability and loss of independence are not inevitable consequences of aging. Engaging in healthy lifestyles can prevent, minimize or even reverse frailty and poor physical and mental health in old age. It can also help sustain the health care system by reducing the need for health and social services.

Taking action to encourage and influence healthy, active aging acknowledges that older adults are a valuable resource. Seniors make important contributions to their families, their communities, the economy and the province.

How B.C. Supports Active Aging

The World Health Organization (WHO) defines active aging as “the process of optimizing opportunities for health, participation and security in order to enhance quality of life as people age. Active aging applies to both individuals and population groups. It allows people to realize their potential for physical, social, and mental well being throughout the life course and to participate in society according to their needs, desires and capacities, while providing them with adequate protection, security and care when they require assistance."

The Ministry of Health supports seniors to adopt healthy behaviours by building on existing opportunities, putting in place interventions that are known to be effective, showing leadership, and supporting innovative approaches.

Encouraging and supporting older British Columbians to adopt healthy lifestyles is critical to improving and maintaining health and well being, because healthy lifestyles have the most influence in avoiding deterioration that has been associated with aging.

Although about 30 per cent of aging can be explained by biology and genetic endowment, people who are physically active, eat a healthy diet, live smoke-free, avoid injuries due to falls and other reasons and remain socially engaged, reduce their risk for chronic diseases and have a much reduced rate of disability compared to those who do not.

"The evidence is clear. Older adults can live longer, healthier lives by staying socially connected, increasing their levels of physical activity, eating in a healthy way, taking steps to minimize their risks for falls, and refraining from smoking."

While active aging depends on all the broad determinants of health, we know that older adults can live longer, healthier lives and will benefit from being physically active, healthy eating, refraining from tobacco use, avoiding injury due to a fall and remaining socially connected.

To ensure that this approach is sustainable and informed by older people, the Ministry of Health also works to foster partnerships and support the leadership and participation of older people.

Background

Active Aging Consultation Report (PDF, 1.7 M)

Healthy Aging through Healthy Living (PDF, 911 K)

Healthy Aging in Canada: A New Vision, A Vital Investment (PDF, 274 K)

Active Aging - A Policy Framework (PDF, 1.0 M)