Ageing is often seen as an inevitable decline in health. However, the reality is far more complex. We’re increasingly understanding how the choices we make today, along with the health conditions and environments we encounter throughout our lives, shape our long-term health outcomes.
While the risk of developing age-related medical conditions—such as dementia, cardiovascular disease, and frailty – tends to increase with age, this trajectory is not fixed. Our lifestyle habits, including physical activity, mental health practices, and regular health assessments, play a significant role in influencing our longevity and quality of life.
It’s no longer just about living longer. It’s about ageing well, meaning we maintain our independence, vitality, and confidence as we age.
The Importance of Proactive Intervention
A recent study published in the JAMA Network revealed that Australia has the second-largest gap between lifespan and healthspan at a striking 12.1 years, among 183 World Health Organisation member states, exceeding the global average of 9.6 years. This gap refers to the difference between a person’s total lifespan (how long they live) and their healthspan (the years they live in good health, free from serious illness or disability). What this means is that many Australians spend over a decade with a disease or disability. The gap underscores the urgent need for proactive health checks and early risk factor detection to support positive ageing.
The Life Course Approach, as advocated in The Lancet’s work on healthy longevity, highlights the importance of targeting modifiable risk factors across every life stage. From high blood pressure and high cholesterol to maintaining a healthy weight range, many health conditions can be successfully treated or even prevented with timely interventions.
At Ford Health, we align closely with this philosophy.
Small Changes, Long-Term Benefits
Simple lifestyle adjustments can delay or prevent the onset of many diseases, including heart disease, diabetes, osteoporosis, and certain cancers like prostate cancer, breast cancer, cervical cancer, and bowel cancer. These adjustments include maintaining a healthy diet, incorporating regular physical activity, and attending routine health assessments.
Staying socially connected and tending to your mental health can also protect against cognitive decline, hearing loss, and other health issues that affect older people.
Yet, too often, we take a reactive approach, only seeking medical attention when symptoms appear. The real key to longevity and long-term health lies in prevention. This is achieved through yearly check-ups, identifying personal history and family history of illness, and working with a trusted health professional to create a plan that keeps you feeling your best.
What Are the 3 Pillars of Ageing Well?
While each person’s health journey is unique, most successful strategies for ageing well revolve around these three trusted pillars:
- Proactive Health Monitoring – Regular health checks, including blood tests, urine tests, and heart health checks, can help detect potential issues before they escalate.
- Lifestyle & Prevention – Staying within a healthy weight range, managing blood pressure and cholesterol, and reducing other risk factors through diet, movement, and sleep.
- Mental & Social Wellbeing – Connection, resilience, and support networks are just as vital as physical health when it comes to enjoying a fulfilling life as we age.
The three pillars of ageing well work together to support you in leading a longer, healthier, and more fulfilling life.
The Role of Annual Comprehensive Health Assessments
One of the most effective ways to support healthy ageing is through a full body health check each year. These comprehensive assessments are designed to uncover potential health risks early, allowing you and your doctor to take proactive steps toward improved wellbeing.
Annual health checks in Australia can include:
- Blood pressure monitoring
- Blood tests to identify elevated cholesterol, diabetes risk, or vitamin deficiencies
- Cancer screenings (such as cervical screening tests, breast cancer checks, and prostate cancer assessments)
- Mental health check-ins
- Hearing and vision tests
- Screening for skin cancer, particularly for those with higher risk due to family history or personal history of sun exposure
Some people may also require further testing or more tests depending on their age, body type, pregnancy status, or specific health condition.
Importantly, these assessments go beyond the physical. A true health assessment looks at your mental health, social wellbeing, and personalised risk factors, offering tailored advice and measurable plans to guide your long-term health goals.
Our Approach to Positive Ageing
At Ford Health, we empower busy professionals and executives to take control of their health through personalised, preventive care. Our Complete Wellbeing programs are built on the understanding that prevention is better than cure and that a holistic, proactive approach is key to living well, longer.
We support our clients with:
- Recurring health assessments
- Risk factor identification (including family history and lifestyle factors)
- Individualised coaching and goal-setting
- Ongoing monitoring of physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing
Whether you’re preparing for retirement, managing existing medical conditions, or simply want to stay healthy for years to come, Ford Health is here to help you lay the foundations for a longer, healthier, more fulfilling life.
Health Assessment Australia: Take Charge Today
If you’re ready to experience the benefits of ageing well, book your annual health check with Ford Health today. Whether it’s a cervical screening, a heart health check, or a full health assessment in Australia, early detection and intervention can make all the difference.
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