News reports focusing on negative data reinforce the expectation that poor health comes with age and feed into a cycle that leads to numerous medical procedures and higher healthcare costs, which reached $2.9 trillion in 2013 and are projected to grow an average of 6% annually through 2023. To reverse this unsustainable trend, Robert Drapkin, MD, recommends that healthcare practitioners promote healthy habits to prevent disease rather than simply treating the symptoms of sedentary lifestyles that appear as people age.

Dr. Drapkin says a focus on negative data fuels false assumptions that aging is always unhealthy. Instead of contributing to this expectation, physicians and healthcare providers should help seniors avoid disease by promoting healthy habits, says Dr. Drapkin. Per Dr. Drapkin, promoting healthy habits earlier in life would help Americans avoid many of the conditions that cause poor quality of life and financial worries as they age.

“Seniors and their families will greatly benefit from an emphasis on improving overall wellness rather than endless treatments and over-medication,” said Dr. Drapkin. “Without a focused effort on education, the soaring costs of healthcare will continue to push the burden of care onto family members.”

“The U.S. spends more on healthcare than any other country,” said Dr. Drapkin, “but our overall health is not comparable with the rest of the world. In some states, lifespans are actually decreasing as a result of lifestyle choices and unhealthy habits.”

Illustrating that point, the overburdened healthcare system focuses at least 25% of its resources to treat preventable diseases and disabilities that result from harmful habits such as smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, failure to use seat belts and alcohol abuse. In fact, alcohol, cigarettes and obesity cost the U.S. healthcare system a combined $177 billion per year.

“The Latino population is facing challenges as they age, with diabetes a big challenge in particular,” says Christine Rozance, MD, Chief Medical Officer of Center for Elders' Independence (CEI), which has locations in the East Bay and across the nation.

“People can take steps to minimize the effects of a chronic condition with a healthy diet, weight management, good sleep, and happy socialization and activities that keep people engaged and healthy.”

Center for Elders' Independence (CEI) is a non-profit Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) health plan for seniors age 55 and older who prefer not to move into a nursing home but whose health problems make it impossible for them to stay at home without the help of caregivers.

“About 15% of the older adults we serve are Latino – about 95 people between El Sobrante and Hayward,” said Dianna Garrett of Center for Elders’ Independence (CEI) in Oakland.

CEI has a strong focus on promoting healthy habits and getting seniors active and socially engaged.

“We have health education, exercise classes, time with a physical therapist, and healthy meals designed by our nutritionist,” says Garrett.

“Anytime someone gives up and thinks something is impossible, it lessens their chances of making changes for a more healthy lifestyle,” adds Garrett. “All of us, no matter our age, need to be making healthy choices about decreasing the stress in our lives and getting enough sleep, eating healthy food, and getting out for a walk.”

“Clearly, a new approach is needed to avoid over-stressing the healthcare system and families of the elderly in the U.S.,” said Dr. Drapkin. “Eliminating preventable diseases through education about healthy habits would not only ease these burdens, but would also reduce healthcare expenditures and increase Americans’ lifespans. It’s a win-win approach that will produce healthier, happier seniors.”