09/09/2025
In 2019 1 billion were aged 60+ years
By 2030 1.4 billion will be aged 60+ years
By 2050 2.1 billion will be aged 60+ years
The pace of population ageing is much faster than at any time in history. The number of persons
aged 80 years or older is expected to triple between 2020 and 2050 to reach 426 million
(World Health Organization: Ageing and health. October 2024)
What is healthy ageing?
Healthy ageing means staying active, maintaining relationships, and continuing to do the things
you value as you grow older.
Supportive environments that promote physical and mental wellbeing are essential for healthy
ageing.
(World Health Organization. Healthy ageing and functional ability. October 2020)
What promotes healthy ageing?
Having a healthy lifestyle throughout your life will help you reduce the risk of many chronic
diseases and improve your physical and mental wellbeing, such as:
• staying as active as your circumstances allow
• challenging your balance regularly
• staying socially connected
• keeping your joints and muscles moving
• eating as well as you can
(World Health Organization: Ageing and health. October 2024)
How can physiotherapy help?
Physiotherapists can advise on how to adopt a healthy lifestyle throughout your life, and offer
treatments and exercise plans to meet your changing needs.
They can:
• give you tailored exercises to maximise your physical function, including improving your
balance and muscle strength, and help build stronger bones
• help you maintain the ability to get up off the ground
• help with your recovery, and show you how to get moving again after surgery, injury or
illness
• manage pain to optimise your mobility
• help you recover from stroke or heart attack
• manage long-term conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, and Parkinson’s
• reduce breathlessness and teach the best way for you to move
(Chartered Society of Physiotherapy: Keeping active - Advice on how to stay healthy and active from 50 to 60+)
It is never to late to start moving more, even a small amount can make a difference to your overall health.
Start small and stick with it, consistency is key to produce results.
