This module is designed to support public health agencies in gaining a foundation in healthy aging as a public health priority, the many roles of public health, and how to take action towards healthy aging. Public health agencies are well situated to integrate principles of healthy aging and support partners that serve older adults with population health approaches that can transform health outcomes and improve quality of life of the entire population.

Learning Objectives: As a result of completing the module, learners will be able to:

• Define healthy aging.
• Craft an elevator pitch that they can use cultivate buy-in from stakeholders, including health agency leaders and partners for prioritizing healthy aging efforts.
• Learn about public health frameworks to promote healthy aging in their jurisdictions.
• Learn what healthy aging looks like when access to quality healthcare is limited, when tools and resources are available, and when systems to support equity in aging are in place.

We would like to express our acknowledgements to Andy Goodman for writing the scripts for the healthy aging videos, which were informed by many individuals’ stories and lived experiences as it relates to aging. We would also like to express our appreciation for See In Colors, who developed the healthy aging videos and brought the stories to life.

This module is supported by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $325,000 with 100 percent funding by HHS/ODPHP. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HHS/ODPHP, or the U.S. Government.

As you proceed through each lesson, any supporting documents will be available in the right-hand 'Course Files' Navigation box. Additional lesson files can be found at the end of the module.

The following is an outline of the resources throughout the module:

Video: A Cautionary Tale

This video highlights how lack of access to quality and consistent healthcare can lead to inequities in healthy aging. Watch the video to learn more about A Cautionary Tale.

Video: What is Healthy Aging?

This video highlights what healthy aging looks like when community systems and resources promote a healthy approach to aging.

Lesson Files:

• What is Healthy Aging? webpage
• Public Health Frameworks to Advance Healthy Aging brief

Video: The Future of Healthy Aging

This video provides a vision of what healthy aging could look like if systems to support equity in aging were in place. Watch the video to learn more about The Future of Healthy Aging.

Lesson Files:

• ASTHO’s Healthy Aging and Brain Health Website

Video: The Elevator Pitch

Introducing ASTHO’s healthy aging bear, this video provides a quick guide for developing an elevator pitch with an example from healthy aging. After watching this video, review resources located under the “Lesson Files” tab to help prime yourself with the latest healthy aging resources, initiatives, and recommendations as you craft your elevator pitch. The “cue card” template can be used to support the development of your elevator pitch.

Lesson Files:

• Elevator Pitch Cue Card
• Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report: Implementation Strategies for Older Adults
• Newscast: New Power Emergency Toolkit, Fresh Guidelines for Older Adults
• Indicators of Healthy Aging: A Guide to Explore Healthy Aging Data through Community Health Improvement
• Supporting Healthy Aging and Older Adult Health: The Role of State and Territorial Health Agencies
• Newscast: Healthy Aging Strategies, Helping Make Sense of Public Health
• Healthy Aging and Older Adult Health Policy Statement
• Improving Older Adult Health by Operationalizing State Plans on Aging and Health Improvement
• Podcast episode about Georgia pilot project

 Knowledge Check and Course Evaluation