Report highlights importance of healthy aging Health and Wellness The second Chief Public Health Officer’s Report provides a realistic picture of the health of our province that will help guide health initiatives, says Health and Wellness Minister Doug Currie. It’s important that we have reliable information that gives us a realistic account of our current health,” said the minister. “By working together to support each other and find ways to incorporate healthier choices into our daily routines, we can improve our own health.” This year’s report has a particular focus on seniors and how good health helps Islanders to “Keep Moving on Life’s Journey.” Similar to Canada, Prince Edward Island’s population is getting older with seniors representing approximately 17 per cent of the Island population, compared with 15 per cent of Canadians. In 2020, one in five Islanders will be over 65 years of age; by 2040, this will increase to almost one in three Islanders. Islanders over the age of 65 are more likely to report greater social interaction and overall general health than other Canadians. However, they are behind their Canadian counterparts in cognition, hearing and physical activity. “It is important to understand the normal aging process and key factors that can contribute to healthy aging in our population,” said Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Heather Morrison. “Although we cannot change the composition of our aging population, we can work to improve the frailty and health in our population at all ages. I hope this report will help provide the information required to make those improvements.” The report also shows that the province is facing some serious health challenges with higher-than-national average rates of obesity, heavy drinking and inactivity. Islanders have more chronic disease and are less likely to consume five or more fruits and vegetables a day, and one in every five Islanders has been diagnosed with high blood pressure. “Although the statistics are troubling, there are steps each of us can take to improve our health,” said the minister. “We all want to live long, vibrant lives. In order to make that more likely, we need to think about the health decisions we’re making now.”
Posted on: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 19:30:57 +0000
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