by Carol Leish, MA
Ventura County Area Agency on Aging (VCAA), in collaboration with Community Memorial Health System (CMHS), debuted their seminars on Health & Wellness for Older Adults & People with Disabilities.
Maziar Goshtasbi, MD, who is a gerontologist, gave the first talk: Healthy Aging. It was, via Zoom, on February 17, 2022.
“The expertise in our county to help our aging population and those with disabilities is profound,” according to, Maureen Hodge, LCSW, High Risk Manager for CMHS, and member of the VCAAA Advisory Council. “Allowing experts to share their wealth of information for caregivers and loved ones will only enhance their knowledge and ability to handle significant changes as people age at any stage of life.”
Dr. Goshtasbi said that the World Health Organization defines health in a multidimensional way, as “complete physical, mental and social well-being, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. And, its vision includes ideas such as meaning and purpose, connectedness, dignity, adaptation, and resilience.”
“Adopting positive lifestyle behaviors increases longevity, decreases chronic disease, and improves quality of life in old age,” according to Dr. Goshtasbi. “Contributors to health include: Health care (10%); social circumstances (15%); Genetics (30%); and, Behavioral patterns (40%).”
Dr. Goshtasbi said that, “The term ‘healthy aging’ often conjures an idea state of freedom from illness of medical conditions. However, in reality, healthy aging requires adaptation to stress, change, and adversity, which is resilience.
“Prevention of cognitive decline occurs with lifestyle interventions (e.g., nutrition, exercise, cognitive training, maintaining social connectedness, and managing vascular risk factors.
“Some risk factors for functional decline are: cardiovascular disease, diabetes, COPD, arthritis, being overweight, smoking. Some protective factors are high levels of physical activity and emotionally supportive social networks.”
The American Geriatrics Society’s framework for health aging in 2019 was outlined as a holistic approach to interventions to promote health aging that accommodates the diversity of health trajectories as we age. “These domains include: 1) Facilitating social engagement; & 2) Promoting health, preventing injury and managing chronic conditions. Other domains are: 1) Promoting health, preventing injury and managing chronic conditions; 2) Optimizing cognitive health; 3) Optimizing physical health; and 4) Optimizing mental health.”
Healthy aging can be achieved at any stage of life. Dr. Goshtasbi said, “Let’s live happier and healthier lives since it’s not o.k. to suffer when getting older.” Dr. Maziar Goshtasbi practices at Community Memorial Health System’s Midtown Medical Group Pirie Road clinic in Ojai. Phone: (805) 640-2323. He is currently accepting new patients.
