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.
Topic- Management
How to choose a consultant by Gary Henkin, BS, and Jennifer Jacobs, MS
Imagine you are preparing to spend millions of dollars on the development or renovation of a new lifestyle center, fitness/wellness facility, recreation clubhouse or spa, and you are scratching your head wondering where to begin. You finally decide a consultant may be required. However, your impression of consultants is on par with “vultures,” looking to prey upon the vulnerable and confused. Sound familiar?
In reality, the right consultant can provide you with valuable assistance in the feasibility, design, preopening and management of your facility. The selection of a consultant, therefore, is a critical decision—one that can ultimately impact the success or failure of your project. Hiring a qualified consultant who has the depth of experience and expertise required for your project will likely save you time, money and numerous headaches. Choosing the wrong consultant can result in project delays, expenses and organizational chaos. Through proper planning, research, thorough interviewing and active engagement in the selection process, you will increase your odds of creating a relationship with a consultant that will help you build the foundation for your new facility’s success.
Management
The discovery period: how to plan and develop an age-friendly wellness center by Cornelia C. Hodgson, AIA
Planning is a process of discovery, with the final result unknown at the outset. This process focuses on the search for an architectural solution that evolves into a feasible project. You start with an idea that develops into a plan. You gather information, you revise the plan in light of this information, and you continue the process until all aspects of the plan are thoroughly vetted and validated, and a feasible project emerges.
So how do you begin? With a discovery period of defining “the What,” “the Who” and “the Where” of your wellness center.
Management
Getting buy-in for wellness by John Rude, MS
Getting buy-in for wellness by John Rude, MS
I often find myself seated in a boardroom, wondering what these dedicated trustees are thinking as I load them up with information about the intrinsic values of wellness. Are they personally committed to better health? Do they manage or work in an organizational setting that supports health and well-being? Like most North Americans, are they dependent on the disease model? How flexible are their thinking patterns as they contemplate a wellness initiative for the organization they serve? Are they willing to make a wellness investment, knowing it’s much more difficult to finance prevention programs as opposed to disease programs? These and many other questions arise, spoken or unspoken, as organizational leaders attempt to make intelligent decisions about embracing a new business venture of any kind—including wellness.
Management
Hiring a marketing agency: seven critical considerations by Kathy Osen East, MPA, MIRM
If you want to hire a new marketing, public relations or advertising agency, or wonder if the firm you currently use is the best possible marketing partner, you could benefit from asking yourself a few key questions. The knowledge you will gain by contemplating these questions will clarify your expectations.
moreManagement
Hiring workers over 50: why & how to increase your organization's appeal by Colin Milner and Jenifer Milner
Despite today’s high levels of unemployment, two demographic trends—the aging of the population and the shrinking number of young people—are set to reshape labor markets. Governments worldwide are grappling with the impact of these converging trends on the “dependency ratio” (the number of younger workers supporting the retired population), and on the knowledge in the workforce. One solution to both concerns is for people to work until later in life. In support, governments are raising the retirement age.
moreManagement
Developing the business case for wellness by Patricia Ryan, Ms
Most people in your organization will likely agree that wellness activities are nice to have. Yet, when it comes time to allocate resources—whether budget, staffing or priority—the “soft” values of wellness are difficult to compare to the “hard” numbers of revenue and expenses.
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