May 11-17 is National Women's Health Week & May is Older American's Month

The ninth annual National Women’s Health Week will begin on Mother’s Day, May 11, and run through May 17, 2008. The purpose of National Women’s Health Week is to empower women across the country to get healthy by taking action and to encourage women to make their health a top priority by taking simple steps for a longer, healthier, and happier life.

National Women’s Health Week is a nationwide initiative sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office on Women's Health (OWH). The OWH encourages families, communities, businesses, government, health organizations and other groups work together to educate women about steps they can take to improve their physical and mental health and prevent disease. Women’s health is important because research has shown that when women take care of themselves, the health of their family improves as well.

Encouraged ideas for ways to get involved in National Women’s Health Week are engaging in physical activity most days of the week, making healthy food choices, visiting a healthcare provider to receive regular check-ups and preventive screenings, and avoiding risky behaviors, like smoking and not wearing a seatbelt. Monday, May 12, 2008 has also been specially designated as National Women’s Check-Up Day. Through the OWH, you can register to take the National Women’s Check-Up Day Pledge to schedule a preventative health screening with your doctor in the next ninety days.

May is also Older Americans Month. This year’s theme is “Working Together for Strong, Healthy, and Supportive Communities,” encouraging everyone to take opportunities to create better care and reinforce healthier societies for all ages. Older Americans Month is especially important because in 2011, the first of 78 million baby boomers (people born between 1946 and 1964) will start transitioning into retirement, kicking off an expansion in the number of elderly people that will continue for decades. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, one out of every nine baby boomers will live to be at least 90 years old.

An expanding senior population underscores our responsibility to ensure the well-being of our older citizens. Older adults support our society by providing millions of hours of volunteer, community, and civic service through formal and informal organizations. As part of Older Americans Month, you can help by assisting older adults to make behavioral changes in their lifestyles that can reduce risk of disease, disability, and injury, obtain the tools they need to make informed decisions about, and gain better access to existing health and long-term care options in their communities, and remain at home as long as possible.

Women In Government has focused specifically on this issue through our Medicare Preventive Services Policy Resource Center. With close to 44 million individuals enrolled in the Medicare program and rising costs of healthcare, it is important to focus on preventive services to help improve quality of life and overall health outcomes for older individuals. Women In Government encourages preventive care and early screening and treatment of health problems, which can help offset chronic disease, improve health conditions, and reduce healthcare costs in the long term. Strategies to help prevent and manage illnesses include educating seniors and their families about the importance of health promotion and disease prevention, promoting physical activity, increasing immunization rates among older adults, supporting safe driving for seniors, and implementing programs to help those with chronic conditions such as diabetes or arthritis.

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