Prof. Hal Kendig

Research Professor of Ageing and Health, University of Sydney,

Sydney, NSW, Australia.

BIOGRAPHY

In February 2005 Professor Hal Kendig commences an appointment as the Research Professor of Ageing and Health at the University of Sydney, National Convener of the ARC-NHMRC Research Network on Ageing Well (www.ageingwell.edu.au), and Chair of the College Research Program in Ageing and Health.   From 1998 to January 2005 he has served as Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Sydney. 

He previously served as Director of the ARC Key Centre in Gerontology at La Trobe University, and he led the ANU Ageing and the Family Project.  He is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia; Honorary Life Fellow of the Australian Council on the Ageing; and Co-Chair of the Social Research and Planning Section, Asia-Oceania, International Association of Gerontology. His collaborative research includes the Melbourne Longitudinal Surveys of Healthy Ageing (with Colette Browning) and studies of caregivers, falls prevention, housing and aged care services and policies.  His publications include Who Should Care for the Elderly? (Singapore University Press, 2000) (with William Liu) and Australian Directions in Aged Care (Australian Health Policy Institute, 2001) (with Stephen Duckett). 

2005 CONFERENCE ABSTRACT

Predictors of Healthy Ageing: Longitudinal Findings

Purpose:

This paper aims to inform Australian health promotion for older people by reporting findings on predictors of healthy ageing.

Methodology:

The information source is the Melbourne Longitudinal Studies on Healthy Ageing (MelSHA) Program.  The Program commenced in 1994 with a baseline survey (face to face and self completion) of 1000 people aged 65 year and over living in non-institutional settings. Participants were interviewed again every two years by telephone. Outcomes have been identified for more than 90 percent of the sample.  In the 2002 round interviews were obtained from 394 respondents.  A face-to face follow-up round was conducted in late 2004.

Results:

Analyses of 2002 outcomes identified predictors of healthy ageing eight years after the baseline survey.  Healthy ageing was defined as having excellent or very good self rated health, independence in daily living, and high positive affect.  After taking account of age and gender, the best predictors of healthy ageing were age left school (education), timed get up and go (physical performance), level of strain (mental health), how often bored (mental health), and physical activity (health behaviour).

Conclusion:

The findings indicate the importance of life style factors in maintaining and improving the health of older people.