“Healthy aging”, two words that can carry a lot of meaning both separately and together.

Making healthy aging happen is increasingly becoming a topic of conversation within our healthcare system, in research, and hopefully within ourselves.  As a researcher and student within the BCC3 Study — a women-centred, community- and clinic-based study aimed to improve healthy aging for women living with HIV in British Columbia (https://hivhearme.ca/) — , my colleague, Shelly and I have been talking about this and wanted to explore the nuances of what those two words mean to us. 

We decided to get together and ask each other: “What does healthy aging mean to you?”

Perla:

I had not really thought much about healthy aging until now in my mid-20s. Before, I mostly thought about what skincare routine and top of the line sunscreen I needed to maintain an eternal youthful glow. But when the signs of hormonal acne and facial hair came and I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, those thoughts soon morphed into greater reflections about several aspects of my life. Now as a 25-year old, I have endless thoughts about me – What am I eating? How much am I exercising? What are the best ways to holistically regulate my hormones? And more importantly, are the systems around me really supporting me in making decisions to better my health?

The journey to my diagnosis was a long one. I was privileged in having a family doctor, but long wait-times made it tricky to see them, get blood work done, and complete all my necessary exams. I spent a lot of time advocating for myself and pushing to get referrals to services I knew I needed. Coming off this experience, I was left with a lot of questions about what my aging would look like in the future within a healthcare system that is still navigating the changes brought on by the pandemic; and whether I would always experience something like this in regard to women’s health issues, or any issue really. I also can’t help myself from thinking more about other factors like access to mental health services, climate change, housing, and what my social support system will look like.

"It is a lot of trial-and-error, but I think that is what makes aging beautiful."

But aside from gloomy thoughts on aging and the constant thought of what’s next, I also think about the hobbies and activities I have discovered and re-discovered. My love and appreciation for libraries, community centres, and musical theatre has grown with my age, and I spend my free time crocheting, being outside in nature, and reading away. I find myself looking forward to figuring out age-friendly ways to continue these into the future.

Now, when I think about what healthy aging means to me, I would say it includes the actions I am taking to prioritise and nurture my physical, mental, and social well-being. It is a lot of trial-and-error, but I think that is what makes aging beautiful. I am constantly growing and learning more and more about myself, my surroundings, my capacity, and what works for me. I also think healthy aging shouldn’t solely rely on me as the individual, but also on the interconnectedness of the outside factors that shape a day-to-day life. It’s a good reminder of the work needed to improve these systems to ensure they make healthy aging happen for different experiences.

Shelly:

Last year I turned 60 years young and recognized my fifteenth year living with HIV. When I was diagnosed with HIV in 2008, even though the messaging was clearly not a death sentence, I couldn’t imagine living or aging with any sense of optimism or hope.  In some ways it really focused my energy on the immediate minutiae in a myopic and misguided way, blanketed with the weight of self-pity and loathing. An HIV diagnosis doesn’t come with flowers and a 'Go Fund Me' page, or at least not in my story, and the stigma, shame and isolation surrounding HIV was somewhat paralysing for a while. However, gratefully, with the support of family and my health care providers over time, those feelings dissipated. I crawled out of the depths of self-pity and began to vision a new future with curiosity and commitment to thriving both physically and mentally, not just living.

I have learned over the past several years that for me movement is absolutely paramount to both my physical and mental health.  Prior to my HIV diagnosis I had a 30+ year career in dance and theatre. My body was trained to move with grace and wisdom, I just had to rewire the purpose of movement gently towards my health and well-being instead of “performance” and push past the self-deprecating voices in my head telling me that I would be sick and old before my time.

"I crawled out of the depths of self-pity and began to vision a new future with curiosity and commitment to thriving..."

Maintaining mobility is the number one thing I know works for me - just keep moving - preferably dancing, but movement is the key!  Science has long recognized the intrinsic value of exercise and beyond exercise the symbiotic relationship between mental health, mobility and independence. I am reminded ironically of a quote from Sylvia Plath who while she may have for whatever reason took her own life, she intrinsically and passionately wrote with such clarity on her painful and complicated past, and once said: “I want to live and feel all the shades, tones and variations of mental and physical experience possible in my life”.  This resonates with me profoundly.

Thinking about what healthy aging means to me - I came up with my M.A.K.E. it happen program. And it goes something like this in daily practice:

M is for mobility and motivation.

Just keep moving and finding inspiration to move outside my comfort zone and extend the distance/perimeters in my life whenever and, wherever possible.

A is for access and acceptance.

I somehow won the geographical lottery living in Vancouver, B.C. Canada in terms of access to free medication and I am forever aware of this inherent privilege.  Access allows for acceptance and moving forward with dignity and support.

K is for knowledge and kindness.

I try to constantly feed my brain with new information surrounding my care and treatment, to stay engaged in my health care and treat myself how I treat the women I work and learn from - with loving kindness, and respect.

E is for exploration and engagement.

As I age I need to stay engaged in community, with my family - biological and chosen, and continue to reach beyond my sometimes “bubble” world view lens to learn new things, to try new things, to explore the world with younger eyes than my years.

"Healthy aging for me, is much more than adherence to medications and a continual cycle of medical appointments - it's a state of mind and motion."

Healthy aging for me, is much more than adherence to medications and a continual cycle of medical appointments - it’s a state of mind and motion. I am reminded on a daily basis of the importance to remain curious, observant, and in a kinesthetic sense, fundamentally, to just keep moving.

Thank you for taking the time to read our words, we would love to hear from you and your experience of what “healthy aging” means to you in the comments section below.

Perla is a student with the BCC3 Study and is currently completing a Master of Public Health degree. She has a background in the health sciences, having worked in knowledge translation/exchange and health promotion settings. She is passionate for health equity, advancing evidence-informed health systems improvements and meaningful community engagement.

Shelly is a Community Research Associate with the BCC3 Study, a very proud mother and grandmother, avid gardener, biker, and a vocal advocate for women’s health research. Shelly continues to teach and choreograph dance for women living with chronic health conditions; for mobility, joy and artistic expression.