Study Healthy Aging Online

This course provides a detailed and thorough inside into healthy aging. As we are living longer, it is important to understand more about how our diet, our lifestyle, our friendships, our family and mental stimulation can affect the way in which we age. Healthy aging is not just about our body, it is also about our mind.

We cannot change our genetic make-up, but we can change the way that we live our lives.  This course is suitable for -

• People over 50 who want to improve their health and wellbeing
• People who work with people over 50 and want to ensure that they are living their healthiest life

The course is studied by distance learning. You can study online or by e-learning, where you receive the course on a USB memory stick.

Course Content

The course has nine lessons -

Lesson 1 - The Aging Process

Introduction the Aging Process

• Biological Definition of Death
• Approaches to Resilient Aging
• Gender Disparities in Aging
• Physical Changes & Development
• Cognitive Changes & Development
• Personal Changes & Development
• Social Changes & Development

Lesson 2 - Monitoring Health

• Introduction
• Health Events and Specialists
• Control of the Heart and Lungs During Exercise
• Blood Pressure
• Blood Disorders
• Weight and Obesity
• The Use of Diuretics
• Over Counter Medicines & Prescription Drugs

Lesson 3 - Adapting to a Different Mindset

• Psychological Wellbeing
• Adjusting to Growing Older
• Loss Aversion
• Bridge’s Transition Model of Change
• Habit and the Brain
• Grief and Aging
• Types of Grief

Lesson 4 - Managing Diet

• Introduction to Healthy Eating
• Food Pyramids
• Food Plates
• Frequency of Eating
• Healthy Digestion
• Developing Routines for Optimal Digestion and Nutritional Health
• Deterioration in Digestive Health and Elimination Systems

Lesson 5 -  Managing Physical Wellbeing

• Physical Changes
• Heart Disease
• Respiratory Disease
• Ways to Optimise Health

Lesson 6 - Psychological and Social Wellbeing

• Introduction to Psychological and Social Wellbeing
• Difficulties Differ
• Dementia
• The Effect of Dementia
• Social Support
• Benefits of Lifelong Learning

Lesson 7 - Therapies

• Introduction
• Medication
• Alternative Therapies
• Psychotherapy and Counselling
• Creative, Eco- and Pet Assistance Therapies

Lesson 8 -  Interventions

• Healthcare and Medical Interventions
• Pain Related Interventions
• Health Literacy
• End of Life Care (Palliative Care)
• Preparing for Approaching Death

Lesson 9 - Making Activity and Environmental Adjustments

• Sleep
• Anxiety
• Stress
• Changing the Environment
• Course Conclusion

At the end of each lesson -

There is -

• A multichoice quiz to test your knowledge.
• A set task - this might include practical tasks or carrying out small pieces of research to find out more about the topic.
• An assignment to submit to your tutor for marking and feedback.

You can also contact your tutor with any questions throughout the course.

Course Aims

The main aim of the course is to increase the student's understanding of healthy aging. Specifically, the learning aims are -

• Describe influences on physical, cognitive, personal, and social development from middle-age onwards.
• Explain different methods of monitoring health in older people.
• Discuss how a person’s state of mind can be best assisted in adjusting to old age.
• Explain dietary issues associated with aging, and options for managing those issues.
• Explain physical issues associated with aging, and options for managing those issues.
• Describe options for managing the psychological and social wellbeing of older people.
• Explain the use of various therapeutic techniques for treating the effects of aging.
• Describe interventions that apply to changing circumstances in aging people.
• Identify and implement changes in the environment and day to day activities of a person as they move through the stages of aging.

If you are over 50 or are working with people over 50 and would like to expand your knowledge of healthy aging, then this is the course for you.

Enrol at any time to start you and work at your own pace.