Wellness Across Different Dimensions Shown to Facilitate Independence in Older Adults

A study published in Healthy Aging Research examined a random sample of 128 male and female U.S. residents age 65 and older living in communities in 22 states to measure individual wellness with a Wellness Assessment Tool (WEL), reports Medical Xpress . WEL lets individuals express interest in or intention to participate in wellness activities. After a one-on-one assessment, the individuals were offered the option to identify wellness priorities, which were analyzed. Older adults were found to value and prioritize the dimensions of physical, social, and emotional wellness over the intellectual, occupational, and spiritual dimensions. The researchers say enhancing wellness in all dimensions contributes to older adults' sense of and ability to maintain independence, "a lifestyle quality manifested vis-a-vis personal priorities related to the six original dimensions of wellness." Wellness in even one dimension was determined to contribute to independence. "Independence represented the ability to engage socially with family and friends; to live according to their current standards; to remain at home, and to enjoy life," the team notes. It is the study's recommendation that community-based wellness interventions be deployed to support aging in place for older adults, concentrating on marketing them toward improving independence, instead of wellness, to reflect adults' priorities and encourage participation.