Daily exercise
Regular physical activity helps older adults stay strong,
steady on their feet, and independent. It does not have to be
strenuous. Brisk walking counts, and some activity is better
than none.
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Each week, adults 65 and older need at least 150 minutes of
moderate activity such as brisk walking, at least 2 days of
muscle-strengthening activity, and activities that improve
balance.
Source: CDC, Older Adult Activity: An Overview
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In 2022, 13.9% of adults 65 and older met the federal
guidelines for both aerobic and muscle-strengthening
activity.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Report No. 215 (PDF)
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For adults 65 and older, physical activity lowers the risk of
heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, reduces the risk
of falls, and helps people live independently longer.
Source: CDC, Physical Activity Benefits for Adults 65 or Older
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People who cannot meet the recommendations because of a
health condition should be as active as their abilities and
conditions allow.
Source: CDC, Older Adult Activity: An Overview
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Dental exams
Teeth and gums need care at every age, including for people who
wear dentures. Regular dental visits can find tooth decay, gum
disease, and other mouth problems early, when they are easier
to treat.
Material on this topic: Dental Care: What Happens During a Dental Exam.
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Falls
Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older,
but many falls can be prevented. Exercise that builds strength
and balance, a review of medicines, regular vision checks, and
a safer home all lower the risk.
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More than 14 million older adults, about 1 in 4, report
falling each year.
Source: CDC, Older Adult Falls Data
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Older adult falls lead to about 4.5 million emergency
department visits each year, including 1.4 million hospital
stays.
Source: CDC, Facts About Older Adult Falls
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Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among
adults 65 and older. They caused more than 43,000 deaths in
2024.
Source: CDC, About Older Adult Fall Prevention
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Fewer than half of older adults who fall tell their doctor,
and falling once doubles the chance of falling again.
Source: CDC, Facts About Older Adult Falls
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Even small changes in sight and hearing are linked to a
higher risk of falls.
Source: National Institute on Aging, Falls and Fractures in Older Adults
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Flu vaccination
Influenza, or flu, is a contagious respiratory illness. Adults
65 and older are more likely than younger adults to develop
serious complications from it. A flu vaccine each year lowers
that risk.
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Everyone 6 months and older should get a flu vaccine every
season, with rare exceptions.
Source: CDC, Seasonal Flu Vaccine Basics
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For people 65 and older, CDC recommends a higher-dose or
adjuvanted flu vaccine over a standard-dose vaccine.
Source: CDC, Flu and People 65 Years and Older
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People 65 and older account for an estimated 70% to 85% of
seasonal flu deaths and 50% to 70% of flu hospitalizations.
Source: CDC, Flu and People 65 Years and Older
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Between 2010 and 2025, CDC estimates that flu caused 9.4
million to 51 million illnesses, 120,000 to 710,000
hospitalizations, and 6,300 to 52,000 deaths in the United
States each year.
Source: CDC, About Estimated Flu Burden
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CDC's preliminary estimate for the 2024 to 2025 season is 51
million illnesses, 710,000 hospitalizations, and 45,000
deaths.
Source: CDC, 2024-2025 Influenza Season Summary
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Healthy living
CDC describes healthy aging as maintaining good physical,
mental, and social health and well-being as we grow older. The
habits that support it are familiar ones.
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CDC's advice for healthy aging is to eat a balanced diet,
exercise regularly, get enough sleep, stay socially
connected, and keep up with checkups, vaccines, and
screenings.
Source: CDC, Healthy Aging at Any Age
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Older adults need about the same amount of sleep as all
adults: seven to nine hours each night.
Source: National Institute on Aging, Sleep and Older Adults
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Each week, adults 65 and older need at least 150 minutes of
moderate activity and at least 2 days of muscle-strengthening
activity.
Source: CDC, Older Adult Activity: An Overview
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Regular physical activity can help manage existing chronic
conditions.
Source: CDC, Benefits of Physical Activity
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Hearing exams
Hearing loss becomes more common with age. A hearing test can
find it, and hearing aids and other devices can help people
stay part of the conversation.
Material on this topic: Hearing Loss: What You Need to Know.
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Home safety
Many falls happen at home. A few changes around the house can
lower the risk of falls, fires, and other injuries.
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The National Institute on Aging suggests handrails on both
sides of stairs, good lighting with switches at the top and
bottom of stairs, grab bars near the toilet and in the tub or
shower, and no throw rugs.
Source: National Institute on Aging, Preventing Falls at Home: Room by Room
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Go through the home room by room to look for hazards, and fix
immediate dangers such as loose stair railings and poor
lighting first.
Source: National Institute on Aging, Aging in Place: Growing Older at Home
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Older adult falls lead to about 4.5 million emergency
department visits each year.
Source: CDC, Facts About Older Adult Falls
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In 2020, adults 65 and older were 2.5 times as likely to die
in a fire as the population as a whole. People who cannot
hear a smoke alarm can get one with a different sound, a bed
shaker, or a strobe light.
Source: U.S. Fire Administration, Fire Safety for Older Adults
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Managing chronic diseases
A chronic disease is a condition that lasts a year or more and
needs ongoing medical attention, limits daily activities, or
both. Heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are common
examples. Managing one well usually means taking medicines as
prescribed, keeping regular appointments, staying active,
eating well, and telling a doctor or nurse when symptoms
change.
Material on this topic: Managing Chronic Diseases.
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Pneumococcal vaccination
Pneumococcal disease is caused by bacteria that can infect the
lungs (pneumonia), the bloodstream (bacteremia), and the lining
of the brain and spinal cord (meningitis). A vaccine protects
against it.
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CDC recommends pneumococcal vaccination for all adults 50 and
older, and for younger adults with certain risk conditions.
Source: CDC, Pneumococcal Vaccination
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Pneumococcal pneumonia kills about 1 in 20 people who get it.
Pneumococcal meningitis kills about 1 in 6 older adults who
get it.
Source: CDC, Pneumococcal Disease Symptoms and Complications
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More than 31,000 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease and
more than 3,500 deaths are estimated to have occurred in the
United States in 2017. One
of the vaccines, PPSV23, is 60% to 70% effective at
preventing invasive disease caused by the strains it covers.
Source: CDC Pink Book, Pneumococcal Disease
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Pneumonia from all causes, not only pneumococcal bacteria,
led to 41,627 deaths in the United States in 2024 and about
1.2 million emergency department visits in 2022.
Source: CDC National Center for Health Statistics, Pneumonia
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For adults, a healthcare provider's office or a pharmacy is
usually the best place to get recommended vaccines.
Source: CDC, Pneumococcal Vaccination
Material on this topic: Pneumococcal Vaccination.
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Vision exams
Many eye diseases have no symptoms in their early stages. A
dilated eye exam is the only way to find some of them early,
while they are easier to treat.
Materials on this topic: Vision Exams, Eye Exams: What to Expect, and Why Are Eye Exams Important?
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