Articles
The Journal on Active Aging brings articles of value to professionals dedicated to older-adult quality of life. Content sweeps across the active-aging landscape to focus on education and practice. Find articles of interest by searching the article archives in three ways: Enter a keyword in the articles search bar; click on search by topic; or type a keyword or phrase in the general search bar at the top of the page.
A healthy foundation: understanding older adults' caloric needs and how to achieve them by Kathryn Porter, MS, RD
Determining what, when and why to eat certain foods to meet a target calorie level can be a challenging and daunting task at any age. This task is even greater in later life, however.
Older adults may be experiencing decline in muscle mass, less volume and intensity of physical activity, chronic health conditions, physical limitations, numerous medications, and slower metabolisms. Additionally, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2007–2008 reported that 78% of American men and 69% of American women ages 60 and older were overweight, while 37% and 34% respectively were obese; moreover, 60% of men and 74% of women had abdominal obesity.
Nutrition
Start planning for Active Aging Week 2011
Among the advantages to growing older is the ability to pursue favorite pastimes, or cross some items off the “bucket list” (or “life list,” if you prefer). As the years move along, people tend to look for activities that add meaning to their lives—and to the world at large. They also become more serious about maintaining mental and physical health.
moreICAA initiatives
Pathway's Camp VIVA! provides an outdoor adventure for assisted living residents
Integrity, professionalism, teamwork, responsibility and quality. These are the five core values of Chicago-based Pathway Senior Living, a for-profit provider of independent and assisted living communities in Illinois. On its website, Pathway defines each value. “Responsibility” is encapsulated as follows: “We are responsible for making a positive difference in the lives we touch.” One way the company makes that difference is through VIVA!™, its life enrichment program.
moreInnovator awards
Sit Strong Systems' dual-purpose chair promotes healthier lifestyles
Located in Hickory, North Carolina, Sit Strong Systems supports “fitness in comfort” with its patented exercise chairs. The company, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business, was started in 2009 by the Bolick family—father Charles and sons Tim and David—who together have over 100 years in the furniture industry. “We recognized a need for an easy-to-use exercise/fitness chair that is esthetically pleasing,” says founder and co-owner Charles Bolick. So he invented it.
moreInnovator awards
More than a game: Tennis is a world of opportunity for 50-plus volunteers by Krystyna Kasprzak, BA
On a muggy afternoon in Toronto last summer, I was on my way to the 2010 Rogers Cup presented by National Bank—a tournament held by Tennis Canada at the Rexall Centre each year—when the car I was traveling in became stuck in rush-hour traffic. My driver was a cheerful and energetic man in his late 50s named Len,1 and as he maneuvered the car through the near gridlock, I engaged him in casual conversation. I learned that he was a Rogers Cup volunteer—an example of vocational wellness in action.
moreVocational wellness
Healthy communities, active lifestyles
For 40 years, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has worked to protect the health of Americans and safeguard the environment in which they live, learn and work. EPA’s Aging Initiative, which focuses on older-adult health, spearheads a national recognition program for communities that are also striving to do both—the annual Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging Awards. In February 2011, the agency named four recipients of its 2010 awards competition. These winning communities are improving people’s health and overall quality of life through smart growth neighborhoods, which are designed to reduce commutes and environmental harm—and promote active lifestyles.
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