Assess Yourself: How Healthy Are You? |
By completing the following assessment, you will have a clearer picture of health areas in which you excel and those that could use varying degrees of work. Taking this assessment will also help you to reflect on various components of health that you may not have thought much about.
Use the results from this assessment as a guide and as a way to begin analyzing potential areas for improvement and/or maintenance. Answer each question, then total your score for each section. Your scores will appear in the Personal Checklist at the end of the assessment for a general sense of your health profile. Think about the behaviors that influenced your score in each category. Would you like to change any of them? Choose the area that you'd like to improve, then complete the Behavior Change commitment. Use the commitment to work through your struggles and implement a behavior change. Each of the categories in this questionnaire is an important aspect of the total dimensions of health, but this is not a substitute for the advice of a qualified health care provider. Consider scheduling a thorough physical examination by a licensed physician or setting up an appointment with a mental health counselor at your building if you think you need help making a behavior change. |
Instructions: |
For each of the following, indicate how often you think the statements describe you. |
Key | |
1 | Never |
2 | Rarely |
3 | Some of the Time |
4 | Usually or Always |
Although each of these six dimensions of health are important, there are some factors that don't readily fit one dimension. As senior adults, you face some unique risks that others may not have. For this reason, we have added this additional section to this self-assessment that focuses on personal health promotion and disease prevention. Answer these questions and add your results to the Personal Checklist in the following section. |
SCORING |
PERSONAL CHECKLIST Here are your scores in each of the health dimensions. Compare them to what would be considered optimal scores. Which areas do you need to work on? How does your score compare with how you rated yourself in the first part of the questionnaire? What Your Scores in Each Category Mean Scores of 35-40: Outstanding! Your answers show that you are aware of the importance of these behaviors in your overall health. More important, you are putting your knowledge to work for you by practicing good health habits that should reduce your overall risks. Although you received a very high score on this part of the test, you may want to consider areas where your scores could be improved. Scores of 30-34: Your health practices in these areas are very good, but there is room for improvement. Look again at the items you answered that scored one or two points. What changes could you make to improve your score? Even a small change in behavior can help you achieve better health. Scores of 20-29: Your health risks are showing! Find information about the risks you are facing and why it is important to change these behaviors. Perhaps you need help in deciding how to make the changes you desire. Assistance is available from the Aging in Place OWCS health services at your building. Consider making a change by creating and filling out the Behaviour Changes diary, you can monitor and direct your focus on your well being Scores below 20: You may be taking unnecessary risks with your health. Perhaps you are not aware of the risks and what to do about them. Identify each risk area and make a mental note as you ponder. Whenever possible, seek additional resources, either in your building or through your local community health resources, and make a serious commitment to behaviour change. If any area is causing you to be less than functional in your personal life, seek professional help. In this site you will find the information you need to help you improve your scores and your health. Remember that these scores are only indicators, not diagnostic tools. Return to previous section |