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Healthy aging courses for staying strong and independent

Practical courses on food, strength, balance and staying connected in later life, with plans you can start from a chair and tools to bring to your checkups.

  • 5 courses
  • Tools in every course
  • Certificate included

Staying strong, steady and well nourished makes a big difference to independence in later life. The CDC reports that more than one in four older adults falls each year, and falls lead to about 4.5 million emergency room visits and 1.4 million hospital stays a year. The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend that older adults do multicomponent activity that includes balance training as well as aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities.

Food needs change too. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 note that some older adults need fewer calories but the same or more protein, vitamin B12, vitamin D and calcium. The NIH recommends 800 IU (20 mcg) of vitamin D a day for adults over 70, compared with 600 IU for younger adults. Our courses turn that advice into easy meals, hydration habits and appetite ideas for small appetites.

If you have Medicare Part B, the Annual Wellness Visit is a yearly chance to review fall risk, medicines and your prevention plan with your doctor, with no Part B deductible or coinsurance. The courses help you prepare for it. If you have a heart condition, have had recent surgery or have fallen before, check with your doctor before starting any new exercise.

All healthy aging courses

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Healthy Aging

Complete Healthy Aging Course

Activity, food, friendships and health checks for later life, brought together with US guidance and simple weekly planners.

  • 4 hours 30 min
  • 5 tools
  • 9 modules
$24.99Buy
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Healthy Aging

Nutrition for Older Adults

Later-life eating made easy: protein, bone-friendly foods, fluids, simple meals and a check for unplanned weight loss.

  • 2 hours
  • 4 tools
  • 6 modules
$19.99Buy
Focused

Healthy Aging

Strength for Older Adults

Chair-based strength moves for later life, a 12-week plan and a before-you-start doctor checklist.

  • 2 hours
  • 4 tools
  • 6 modules
$19.99Buy
Focused

Healthy Aging

Supporting an Aging Parent

Find the right help for an aging parent and share the load fairly, with a needs checklist, a care options comparison and conversation cards.

  • 2 hours 15 min
  • 5 tools
  • 7 modules
$22.99Buy

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Choosing a healthy aging course

What the healthy aging tools do

  • Home falls hazard checklist: room by room, from loose rugs to stair lighting.
  • Balance and chair-based exercise cards: each move with steps, safety tips and an easier version.
  • 12-week strength plan and progress log: sessions laid out week by week.
  • Easy meal planner, hydration tracker and appetite ideas list: small, regular meals and drinks that are simple to prepare.
  • Health appointments tracker: checkups, screenings and questions in one place.

The CDC's falls prevention program for clinicians is called STEADI. If you have fallen, feel unsteady or worry about falling, ask your doctor about a falls risk check.

When to check in with a doctor

Ask for a doctor's appointment if you or someone you care for:

  • has had a fall, even without injury, or feels unsteady
  • is losing weight without trying, or clothes and rings have become loose
  • has a poor appetite that lasts more than a week or two
  • is more confused or forgetful than usual

Call 911 after a fall if someone cannot get up, has hit their head, is in severe pain, or is confused or drowsy. The Eldercare Locator, 1-800-677-1116, can connect you with local services, including meal programs for older adults.

Healthy aging courses: your questions

Is it too late to start strength exercise in my 70s or 80s?

No. The federal activity guidelines recommend muscle-strengthening and balance activities for older adults whatever their starting point. The strength course begins seated and asks you to check with your doctor first if you have a heart condition, recent surgery or a history of falls.

How much protein do older adults need?

The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines set a general adult protein target of 1.2–1.6 grams per kilogram of body weight each day (roughly 0.5 to 0.7 grams per pound), and note that older adults need the same or more protein even if they need fewer calories. If you have kidney disease, check with your doctor before eating more protein.

How much vitamin D do adults over 70 need?

The NIH recommended intake is 800 IU (20 mcg) a day for adults over 70, and 600 IU for adults up to age 70. Ask your doctor or pharmacist before starting a supplement.

What does the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit include?

It includes a health risk assessment, a review of cognitive function, functional ability and fall risk, depression screening and a personalized prevention plan. It is covered once every 12 months with no Part B deductible or coinsurance.

Can I take a course on behalf of a parent?

Yes. Many family members take the courses to understand what support might help, then share the printable tools with their parent.

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Make your home safer this week

Open Balance and Everyday Mobility and walk through the home falls hazard checklist, one room a day.

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