Last updated: January 25, 2024

As you enter middle age, you may be noticing natural changes to your body or mind. Learn how to plan for a healthy life in the coming decade and improve your experience of getting older.

On this page:

• What is healthy aging?
• Staying active
• Healthy eating
• Mental well-being
• Preventive health and safety
• Your health information

What is healthy aging?

As you journey through life, your healthcare needs naturally evolve. Embracing a healthy lifestyle becomes even more important. There are several empowering steps you can take to proactively care for your well-being, from shifts in your diet and activity levels, to the reassurance of health screenings. Managing risk factors becomes a powerful tool in preventing potential health challenges. Learning about how to increase your strength and balance, and creating a secure home environment are also keys to maintaining your independence.

Staying active

Being physically active is one of the most important steps you can take to age well. Some of the benefits include decreased risk of age-related chronic conditions, such as heart disease and dementia, and preserved physical function which enables performing activities of daily living and maintaining independence.

Learn more about how to get active:

• Physical Activity as You Get Older
• Active Aging Canada
• Active for Health
• Osteofit
• Choose to Move
• Physical Activity Helps Prevent a Heart Attack and Stroke
• Fitness: Getting and Staying Active

Healthy eating

Eating well is a key part of healthy aging. A healthy eating pattern can help you to meet your energy and nutrient needs, feel your best and stay strong. It can also prevent some chronic diseases and other conditions. 

Learn more about how to eat well as you age:

• Healthy Eating and Healthy Aging for Adults (HealthLinkBC File #68j)
• Canada's Food Guide
• Healthy Eating and Older Adults
• Heart-Healthy Eating

Mental well-being

Feeling at your best involves maintaining a sense of balance, fostering connections with others and being prepared to confront life's challenges. Your daily experiences and activities significantly impact your mental well-being. Enhance your mental wellness through mindfulness practices, staying involved in community, and cultivating a healthy mindset. By doing so, you'll build resilience, better equipping yourself to face life's inevitable challenges.

Learn more about mental wellbeing:

• Well-being
• Help Starts Here
• Depression in Older Adults
• Quitting Smoking
• Simple Ways to Connect With Others and Reduce Loneliness
• Spirituality and Your Health
• Stop Negative Thoughts: Choosing a Healthier Way of Thinking
• Stress Management
• Alcohol and Aging: Your Health

Preventive health and safety

As you age, it's important to get regular check ups, immunizations and screenings. Early disease detection can be an important tool towards maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Getting older also means checking on things like vision and hearing loss to ensure it's still safe to do things like driving. 

Learn more about preventive health and safety:

• Health Screening: Finding Health Problems Early
• ImmunizeBC: What vaccines do adults need?
• Vision Problems: Living with Poor Eyesight
• Hearing Loss in Adults (HealthLinkBC File #71c)
• Making the Most of Your Appointment
• Organizing your Medical Records
• Preventing falls

Your health information

Health Gateway provides B.C. patients with secure and convenient online access to their health records. Through Health Gateway you can access your immunization records, lab test results, medication history, health and hospital visits, medical imaging reports and more.

You can also check if your Health Authority region offers any additional digital tools to access your health information.