Healthy Older Adults Stay Active and Involved, According to Local Survey
Thursday. April 8, 2004

PHILADELPHIA, PA, April 2004 —In addition to exercising regularly and maintaining a normal body weight, older adults who remain socially active and involved in their community are less likely to report poor physical and mental health. These are some of the findings uncovered recently by the Philadelphia Health Management Corporation (PHMC), a nonprofit public health agency in Center City Philadelphia.

According to PHMC’s Southeastern Pennsylvania Household Health Survey, over half of all older adults (ages 60+) in the region participate in at least one community group or organization (53.5%). Among those who participate, only 25.2% report being in fair or poor health as compared to 38.7% of adults who do not participate in any groups. Those who are involved in their communities are also less likely to report signs of depression. Less than ten percent of adults who participate in at least one community group report signs of depression (9.3%) as compared to 16.7% of older adults who do not participate. And, nearly one-third of older adults in Southeastern Pennsylvania who feel they do not belong in their neighborhood report signs of depression (31.5%), as compared to 11.0% of adults who feel they belong.

More than 10,000 interviews were conducted by telephone in the summer of 2002 in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties. The next survey will be conducted starting this June. PHMC is a United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania member agency. Additional Survey findings are located online at www.phmc.org/chdb.