The New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services announces The Blueprint for Healthy Aging in New Jersey, a comprehensive guide for local governments and leaders of health and aging service organizations interested in effective, low-cost senior wellness programs. The guide is available on-line at www.nj.gov/health/senior/blueprint.
The blueprint includes county-level demographics some tabulated and published for the first time anywhere on older adults and their health status. It contains information on the benefits of healthy behaviors, and public policy recommendations and strategies for containing health care costs. Most importantly, the blueprint gives examples of cost-effective New Jersey-based model programs that can be implemented locally to support older adults in pursuing healthy behaviors.
Expanding health promotion opportunities for older adults can lessen the impact of chronic disease and other illnesses, disabling injuries, and long-term health care costs. Older adults of any age can and do learn to make healthy behaviors that can improve their quality of life.
