engleski

Public-health Aspect of the Active Aging

According to demographic analyses, a rapid increase of absolute and relative number of elderly persons is to be expected in the population worldwide - the number of people over 60 will probably double (605 million to 1.2 billion) in the next 25 years (2000-2025) (UN, 1999). Predicted increase will induce not only a demographic transition, but also significant changes in morbidity and mortality, giving rise to an epidemiologic transition.The above mentioned is going to influence politics and healthcare organization, as well as the number of social-economic aspects in a number of countries. The ten kinesiologically sensitive diseases and conditions prevailing in elderly population are already present and diagnosed in younger adults (20-64 yrs). Such findings accentuate the need for implementing active prevention/intervention as early in life as possible, including the undisputable role of chronic physical activity. According to current knowledge, regular physical activity (PA), commenced at younger, but also at middle-adult age, together with other hygienic and nutritional measures, like non-smoking and healthy life-style, contributes significantly to preventing, postponing, or, at least, slowing down and alleviating development of the diseases. During the last two decades certain efforts have been made in Croatia to introduce recreation activities (physical exercise) in retiring homes and clubs for elderly people. Unfortunately, these exercise programs have been introduced primarily thanks to the understanding of management boards and enthusiasm of PA instructors, and not as a result of the generally accepted health-care and social well-being policy or financial support from the responsible government institutions. Certain positive changes, however, seem to occur in recent years. The responsible government bodies and social structures are starting to recognize the importance of active aging not only for the health benefits and health-related economic reasons, but they also recognize it as a very important psycho-social measure in promoting quality of life of elderly persons.

physical activity; elderly

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