The Global Wellness Institute defines wellness as “the active pursuit of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health.”1 Importantly, this definition of wellness stresses whole-person health as something that is not a static state, but an “active pursuit.” That pursuit may be ongoing to support good quality of life for older adults.
A long-term study by the MacArthur Foundation found that 70% of physical aging and approximately 50% of mental aging is determined by daily lifestyle choices,2 and research on healthy aging shows that seniors who embrace wellness as part of everyday life receive significant benefits.3
The many dimensions of senior wellness
Wellness includes all aspects of well-being, encompassing the sense of purpose, health, belonging and security.4
Purpose
A sense of purpose is the feeling of making a difference and being connected to something greater than oneself. Some people derive a sense of purpose from engagement in meaningful work in their professional lives, but what about after retirement?
Some seniors do volunteer work, while others deepen engagement with a church or other spiritual community. Older adults may decide to focus on aspects of identity that give their life meaning, like “mentor,” “parent,” “grandparent” or “helper.”
Volunteering as a senior is associated with health benefits such as enhanced cognition, delayed physical disability, reduced risk of hypertension, lower mortality and an improved sense of well-being.5 One study estimates that religious and spiritual involvement prolongs life by about 7 years.6
Health
This dimension includes physical, intellectual and emotional wellness, along with physical activity, diet, mental health, cognition and sleep. Together, exercise and lifestyle changes, such as becoming more active and eating healthy food, may reduce the risk of diabetes in high-risk seniors, are effective at reducing stress and sleep problems, and may improve balance, reducing fall risk.7
Physical Activity
Regular physical activity—including endurance, muscle-strengthening, balance and flexibility exercises—may contribute to healthy aging.8 Older adults who are physically active have lower mortality rates, higher levels of functional and cognitive health, and are less likely to have heart disease or Type 2 diabetes.9
Diet
Older adults often need more nutrients and may require vitamin and mineral supplementation, especially calcium, vitamin D, and vitamins B6 and B12.10
Sleep
Sleep needs are individual, but experts recommend that adults get 7-9 hours every night.11 Older adults are advised to stick to a regular bedtime, even on weekends and holidays.12
Belonging
An active social life is associated with better cardiovascular outcomes, greater immunity to infectious disease, less risk of depression and a longer life.13
The risk of isolation increases for some seniors who experience social circles shrinking over time. To build and maintain social connections, older adults may consider regular coffee or lunch meetings with friends, organizing game nights, group walks or other activities. Shared volunteer or faith-based activities are also good ways to meet new people and maintain existing relationships.14
Security
Security for older adults may include feeling physically safe and secure at home, having financial planning in place and planning for natural disasters.15
Seniors interested in this dimension of wellness may consider evaluating their living environment for risks, including potential for falls and vulnerability to break-ins. They may want to speak with building management or get referrals to home health care and/or home security companies that can make the necessary upgrades. Similarly, seniors may want to speak with a lawyer or advisor about future financial stability. Living in an area prone to natural disaster may warrant local preparedness resources for evacuation or sheltering in place. The peace of mind afforded by having a plan, and having the necessary supplies on hand, may contribute significantly to a sense of secure well-being.16
For seniors to experience the full dimension of wellness, it may mean finding ways to nurture every aspect of oneself to grow healthier, happier and enjoy life more fully.
Go365 by Humana® makes wellness fun and easy. We help Humana Medicare members with Go365® on their plan reach health goals as well as take care of their physical and emotional health—allowing members to thrive at any age.
Humana Medicare members with Go365 on their plan can enroll in Go365 at
Go365 is a well-being and rewards program for many Humana Medicare Advantage members. To learn more about Humana Medicare Advantage, call to speak with a licensed Humana sales agent at 1-844-321-5843 (TTY:711), Monday – Friday, 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. local time or visit
If you need to enroll in Medicare Advantage or change your plan outside of the usual Medicare Annual Election Period, a Special Election Period (SEP) could be the answer. For information on eligibility, visit Humana’s
1“What Is Wellness?” Global Wellness Institute, last accessed July 28, 2022,
2“What Does Wellness Really Mean as We Age?” Where You Live Matters, last accessed July 28, 2022,
3“What Does Wellness Really Mean as We Age?”
4“What Does Wellness Really Mean as We Age?”
5“What Does Wellness Really Mean as We Age?”
6“What Does Wellness Really Mean as We Age?”
7“Promoting Wellness in Older Patients,” NIH National Institute on Aging, last accessed July 28, 2022,
8“Promoting Wellness in Older Patients.”
9“What Does Wellness Really Mean as We Age?”
10“How Much Should I Eat? Quantity and Quality,” NIH National Institute on Aging, last accessed July 28, 2022,
11Carol DerSarkissian, “How to Sleep Better as You Get Older,” WebMD, last accessed July 28, 2022,
12“How to Sleep Better as You Get Older.”
13“What Does Wellness Really Mean as We Age?”
14“What Does Wellness Really Mean as We Age?”
15“What Does Wellness Really Mean as We Age?”
16“What Does Wellness Really Mean as We Age?”
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