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.
Tips to help you plan successfully by Emily Chan, MBA
Many plans made in business are a waste of time. These plans are not based on reliable data or rigorous analysis, and the people involved do not have sufficient resources (such as data), training or guidance to create plans properly. Often, executives overseeing the plans either do not want or know how to assess the plans—especially nonbudget items. And there is no system set up to track and reward implementation, except for the budget.
moreManagement
Blogs, social media and the Web: how to help your clients engage online by Marilynn Larkin, MA
Recent research confirms what many members of the International Council on Active Aging® (ICAA) are seeing in their organizations and communities—namely, dramatic increases in the use of social networking and online networking tools. According to the nonprofit Pew Research Center in Washington, DC, social networking use among American Internet users ages 50 and older nearly doubled—from 22% to 42%—between April 2009 and May 2010. At that point, half (47%) of users ages 50–64 and one in four (26%) users ages 65 and older used social networking sites.
moreCareer development
Seven barriers to life span engagement: health and well-being across generations and natural physical environments by Randy T. Eady, MEd, NCC
Oftentimes, when I speak at a conference or present three-Bs seminars (breathing, balance and bilateral coordination), I begin with a demystification of what tai chi does to bring body, mind and spirit together in a movement meditation. All the while, I underscore why these holistic considerations are so important for both ends of the age spectrum, as well as special needs groups. Curiously, we find ourselves in a culture that simultaneously promotes and glorifies fitness while restricting access to quality physical education and good information on holistic principles.
moreEmotional wellness
Active aging industry outlook
Today’s generations of people 65 years and older in the United States and Canada are healthier and living longer that any generation in the past. Right behind them are the Baby Boomers—today in their 40s, 50s and 60s—a group of startling size and diversity that likewise will experience longevity.
How will society react when such a large portion of the population is middle-aged or older? What are the implications of the oldest ages being the fastest-growing population segment?
Market research
Piggyback programs to national observances
•A resource-friendly approach to building a diverse wellness program is to piggyback onto a national or regional “observance.” Well-known examples are Heart Month in February and Active Aging Week, held over the last week of September. An observance is a day, week or month that publicizes a special interest or group of people, such as health (stop smoking or high blood pressure awareness week), physical activity (yoga day) or older adults (Older Americans Month). Some events might combine all of these, as in Active Aging Week.
There are a number of advantages to personalizing observances to fit into your programs. The designated days, weeks or months fit into the dimensions of wellness. Often the sponsoring organizations provide support materials that can be downloaded for free, or ordered for free or at a nominal rate. You can use these resources to jump start the program planning with themes, handouts and images ready to use.
Program design
More table settings for healthy eating
When the MyPlate icon was released by the US Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services in June of 2011, it was a departure from the previous food pyramids. The goals were to remind people to make healthy food choices based on the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and to keep it simple.
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