As Australians live longer, the focus is shifting from simply adding years to life to adding life to years. The Healthy Ageing Conference 2025, hosted by the Nepean Blue Mountains Primary Health Network (NBMPHN) on April 5 at the Western Sydney Conference Centre in Penrith, was a powerful showcase of just how this can be done.
Bringing together leading clinicians, researchers, advocates, and health professionals, the conference explored how older Australians can live healthier, more independent lives—by treating ageing not as a decline but as a stage of strength, purpose and connection.
Dr Norman Swan, keynote speaker and MC, urged healthcare professionals to look beyond lifespan and focus on healthspan—the years lived in good health. He cited clear evidence that while genetics matter, lifestyle, environment, and health system design play much bigger roles.
✅ Action Step: The adverse impacts of ageing are modifiable. Think about strength, connection, and capability—not just limitations.
Dementia affects nearly half a million Australians. However, up to 40% of cases are preventable, according to the Lancet Commission on Dementia Prevention, Intervention and Care.
Speakers highlighted:
Modifiable risk factors include hearing loss, smoking, hypertension, inactivity, social isolation, and depression
Interventions are most effective when introduced in midlife or earlier
A clinical trial is underway using a digital screening tool to identify dementia risk in primary care and offer tailored behavioural recommendations
✅ Action Step: Begin screening for dementia risk factors in people 45+, speak to your GP.
Loneliness was described as a public health threat comparable to smoking and obesity. It’s associated with increased risks of cardiovascular disease, dementia, and early death.
Key points:
Loneliness ≠ social isolation (subjective vs objective)
Older adults often won’t use the word “lonely”—they say “I feel invisible” or “I don’t want to be a burden”
A pharmacist-led pilot training program is being trialled to support meaningful conversations with patients (the PALS program)
✅ Action Step: Ask, “Do you feel connected to people in your life?” Consider engaging with local walking or hobby groups.
Dr Kuljit Singh introduced social prescribing as a model that acknowledges that health is not just biological but also social and psychological. GPs and allied health professionals, including physiotherapists and community members, can refer patients to community activities, social groups, or volunteering opportunities to combat isolation and boost well-being.
✅ Action Step: If you are not a member of a group or association, speak to your GP or physio about local organisations (e.g., Men’s Sheds, community choirs, arts groups).
Professor Anne Tiedemann, from the University of Sydney, presented compelling evidence that not all exercise is created equal for fall prevention.
Key findings:
Balance-challenging and functional exercises (e.g. walking on uneven surfaces, step-downs) are most effective
Group classes are just as effective as 1:1 sessions if designed well
Yoga-based interventions actually increased falls in one trial—highlighting the need for evidence-based exercise programs
✅ Action Step: Join an exercise class that includes progressive balance training and functional movement—not just strength or general fitness, like those offered by our team.
✅ Action Step:Don’t ignore any aches, pains or niggles that are preventing you for being active.
Professor Karen Walton discussed the growing evidence around protein intake in older adults:
Older adults often under-consume protein
Spreading protein across all meals (not just dinner) helps preserve muscle mass and immune function
BMI is a flawed health indicator in older age; a slightly higher BMI may be protective
✅ Action Step: As an older person, include a source of lean protein in every meal (e.g. eggs, Greek yoghurt, legumes, fish). See a dietitian for more tailored advice.
Chronic disease management doesn’t need to be fear-based. Liz Obersteller, nurse practitioner and diabetes educator, advocated for shifting from “managing risk” to “building resilience”.
Key messages:
Focus on self-efficacy, patient-led goal setting, and community supports
Address not just the numbers (BP, A1c) but also emotional well-being and lifestyle barriers
✅ Action Step: Ask yourself and tell your health professional about, “What’s most important to me right now?” so that any intervention is focussing on what you need.
Daniel Nasri, pharmacist and educator, called for urgent attention to polypharmacy in older adults. Many older Australians are on 5+ medications, increasing their risk of interactions, side effects, and cognitive decline.
Example: Proton Pump Inhibitors (PPIs) are often continued long-term without re-evaluation.
✅ Action Step: Discuss your prescriptions with your pharmacist and your GP.
The Healthy Ageing Conference 2025 demonstrated that we already have the tools to make ageing better for Australians. The challenge is embedding these practices into everyday life.
“We have the evidence. We have the will. What we need is implementation.”
