Growing older doesn’t mean giving up everyday activities and the things you love. Lifestyle choices you make today can help you enjoy a fulfilling and independent life for longer.
With help from the Australian Government, you can access a range of aged care services to support you to stay independent for longer at home.
There are also simple things you can do to help you age well and delay the need to access these services.
On this page you can read about healthy ageing and learn about LiveUp and LifeCurve™. These are free online tools that provide tailored information to support your physical health and mental wellbeing.
What is healthy ageing?
Healthy ageing is about maintaining the ability to do the things that make you happy and fulfilled as you get older. Staying physically and mentally well can slow the impacts of ageing; it can also delay your need for aged care services.
You may experience some health and mobility challenges as you age. But there are things you can do to maintain your abilities before difficulties arise. Simple changes to your home, the use of different assistive devices, connecting with different community groups, volunteering, travel, and trying physical and wellbeing therapies are a few examples.
Challenges with ageing
Most people will start to struggle with a range of daily tasks without assistance by the time they turn 65. However, research shows that if you work at maintaining your abilities before you start to experience decline, you will have a more positive ageing journey.
The World Health Organization lists a few core capabilities that enable people to live in a way that has value for them. These include a person’s ability to:
- meet basic needs
- learn, grow, and make decisions
- be mobile
- build and maintain relationships, and
- contribute to society.*
LiveUp and LifeCurve™ are designed to help you regain or maintain these abilities. You can read more below about how they can help.
* Healthy ageing and functional ability, World Health Organization, 2020.
How can LiveUp and LifeCurve™ help?
LiveUp and LifeCurve are two online tools that can help you keep fit, well, and independent.
Healthy ageing with LiveUp
LiveUp is a national platform that can empower you to make simple changes that help you age healthily and stay independent for longer.
To find out how LiveUp can help you, visit the LiveUp website and take the OpenUp Quiz. It only takes five minutes to complete.
Answer a few quick questions and you will receive practical suggestions for active, social, and mental wellbeing activities that are happening in your area or online. You don’t have to provide any personal information to make the most of the tailored information.
The LifeCurve Assessment
The LifeCurve is an online tool that you can use if you are struggling with activities of daily living. The app asks questions related to activities people commonly do each day such as showering, dressing, cooking, cleaning, or, shopping. It suggests tasks you can do to improve your abilities and regain independence. It tracks your abilities and helps you compare them with other users of a similar age.
LifeCurve was developed by ADL Research and Newcastle University’s Institute for Ageing (UK), one of the global leaders in ageing research.
You can create a free online account to track your progress.
Where can I find more information?
You can read more about how to stay independent and get the most out of life on the LiveUp website.
If you have questions about healthy ageing or the online tools, you can contact the LiveUp team by:
- calling 1800 951 971
- emailing support@liveup.org.au, or
- visiting the support page on the LiveUp website.