SUCCESSFUL AGING FROM THE PROPOSED BETTY IRENE MOORE SCHOOL OF NURSING

Healthy aging

• Exercise for 30 minutes most days. Include a mixture of aerobic exercise, strengthening and activities that enhance balance and flexibility.
• Quit smoking.
• Eat a healthy diet.
• Reduce alcohol.
• Manage chronic conditions and stress.
• Prevent accidents.

Medication safety

• Keep a current list of all prescribed, over-the-counter and herbal medications.
• Ask your health-care provider and pharmacist questions about your medication and make sure you understand what you are taking and when to take it.
• Re-read the label each time.
• Store medications appropriately.
• Get help in taking medications if needed.
• Check with your health-care provider before stopping medications or changing doses.
• Discard old medications.

Assuring your preferred future

• Provide for a durable power of attorney for health care.
• Provide for an advance directive or POLST (physician orders for life-sustaining treatment) that describes your wishes if you are unable to make decisions related to your health.
• Have the important conversations with family, friends and health-care providers about your end-of-life wishes.
• Keep a current medication list and share it with those you designate to help you.
• Maintain an inventory of your documents and their location.
• Get help when you need it.

Take PART* in your health-care visits

• Prepare your agenda, questions and information you need to share with your health-care provider.
• Ask about the diagnosis, tests, treatment, lifestyle changes and required follow-up.
• Repeat what you hear.
• Take action by writing down instructions, taking a friend with you, being open and asking for a second opinion.

* Adapted from "Living a Health Life with Chronic Conditions," by Kate Lorig, et. al.