You Can!  is a national initiative to increase physical activity and improve nutrition choices of older adults.  A You Can! Challenge Event will take place in September.  Promotional resources, toolkits and more will be available to organizations that become part of this national initiative.

You Can! Steps to Healthier Aging is the aging component of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Steps to a HealthierUS initiative, which encourages Americans of every age to make healthier choices. Sign up at http://www.aoa.dhhs.gov/youcan/

The goal of the campaign is to increase the number of older adults who are active and healthy.  AoA will partner with at least 2,000 community organizations to reach at least two million older Americans in two years. We will get out the message about the importance of improving nutrition choices and increasing physical activity. AoA is using a partnership approach to mobilize communities. Together, we will create public awareness and make programs available to help older Americans improve their nutrition and increase their physical activity. The target population is older Americans who are ready to make lifestyle changes to improve their health and participate in local nutrition and physical activity programs.

Making positive changes in both food choices and physical activity can help prevent, delay, and even treat many of the leading chronic ailments among older Americans. Older adults who make wise food choices and are physically active tend to have better health and well-being. They are less likely to have heart disease, certain types of cancers, diabetes, anxiety and depression, stroke, and osteoporosis. They are less likely to have the risk factors for obesity, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol. They have lower death rates. They say that they feel more energetic. People who make better nutrition choices and are physically active on a regular basis are more able to do the activities of daily life and continue to live on their own longer.

Who is eligible to join the campaign?  Community organizations across the country may participate as a You Can! Partner. This includes Aging Services and public and private community organizations, faith-based organizations, and health organizations including hospitals that directly interact with older adults. Examples include senior centers, nutrition providers, local health departments, local government, Parks and Recreation departments, faith-based organizations, and hospitals. AoA also invites Area Agencies on Aging, title VI providers, universities, and national organizations to join the campaign as You Can! Champions. These are organizations that join because they are committed to activating and energizing the campaign.

AoA is asking community partners to:

·              Tell your community about the importance of making healthier lifestyle choices.

·              Offer older adults information about improving both nutrition choices and

            increasing physical activity.

·              Look for ways to implement nutrition and physical activity programs and activities for older adults.

The key campaign messages for older Americans are:

You can do it. Making better food choices and being more physically active are well within reach. You only need to follow a few simple steps a day.  Medical evidence shows that most older people who get a moderate amount of regular physical activity and eat right tend to be healthier and feel better.

Partner Benefits.  By becoming a You Can! partner, your organization can take another step to help older Americans make healthier lifestyle choices. Join the campaign. Get recognized for what your organization is already doing. Get ideas and tools for new activities and programs. Be able to say that your organization is a part of a national movement. Together we can encourage older adults to lead more vital lives. It’s easy to participate in the You Can! campaign.

·              Promote your organization to a wider audience.

·              Highlight your current programs and activities.

·              Network with other organizations.

·              Receive the exclusive You Can! toolkit.

·              Get recognized as a You Can! partner.

·              Participate in national events.

·              Network with other organizations.

·              Be recognized as a You Can! partner.

Tools and Information

·              The exclusive You Can! Toolkit. Includes graphics for branding local programs, 

             publicity guide, and educational materials.

·              Examples of nutrition and physical activity programs.

·              Online “Partner-only” area of the You Can! Web site.