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Summer 2008 | Vol 11 No 4

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Sheila Lacroix

Healthy aging

Federal government resources

For an indepth overview of health aging, see the report Healthy Aging in Canada: A New Vision, A Vital Investment – From Evidence to Action on Health Canada’s website or by doing a Google search. The report outlines three “key mechanisms” for building longer, healthier lives: supportive environments, mutual aid and self-care. The key areas are social connectedness, physical activity, healthy eating, falls prevention and tobacco control. Discussion of each area examines current knowledge, promising practices and future directions. For more government resources visit Health Canada (choose Seniors and Aging from the A–Z Index) and the Public Health Agency of Canada (www.phac-aspc.gc.ca, choose Seniors from the menu).  

Mental health promotion resources

Coming soon to the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) website (www.camh.net) is Best Practice Guidelines for Mental Health Promotion Programs: Older Adults 55+. This is the second in a series of mental health promotion e-guides developed by CAMH, the Centre for Health Promotion at the University of Toronto and Toronto Public Health.

For the public, both the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) and the U.S. Geriatric Mental Health Foundation (GMHF) provide tips and guidelines for the aging public. At CMHA, under Your Mental Health, select Aging and Mental Health. On the GMHF website, see the Consumer/Patient Information section for fact sheets on topics including Healthy Aging: Keeping Mentally Fit as You Age, Substance Abuse and Misuse Among Older Adults and Depression Recovery Toolkit