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.
Launch of a Laughter Yoga program by Rita Lopienski, MA
In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to get too serious and stressed. In whole-person wellness, we look at how to integrate activities and events to benefit our clients in a more healthy way. We look at social, physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, environmental and vocational components. There are many creative activities that integrate these components into wonderful wellness programs.
moreProgram design
Strength training past 50 for cyclists by Wayne L. Westcott, PhD, CSCS and Thomas R. Baechle, EdD, CSCS
Bicycling is a truly amazing aerobic activity that can be performed and enjoyed by a large percentage of older adults. The wheels provide exponential advantages over ambulatory exercise on level surfaces and down hills. However, the additional weight of the cycle renders uphill riding much more physically demanding than uphill walking or running.
This is one reason why all cyclists, and especially older cyclists, should perform strength training.
Exercise
Riding a bicycle: help learning and returning adults by W. Preston Tyree
If you think of what bicycling offers children, you begin to understand why it’s also valuable for older adults. When instructors for the League of American Bicyclists teach Smart Cycling® classes, we frequently ask people about their first experiences with a bicycle. When students come up with one word that describes their early experiences, it is usually "freedom." But the list generally has lots of great words like: independence, adventure, friends, fun and money.
Bicycling is all of those things—and more even—for mature cyclists. Going to the local coffee shop to meet with friends provides exercise, camaraderie and a chance to catch up with what is going on in the neighborhood. Older cyclists can use a bicycle to shop for groceries, visit the library, ride in the park with their grandchildren and even visit the doctor.
Health promotion
Using research to build a wellness program by Denise Heimlich, MS
All of us in the wellness industry like to believe that our programs increase fitness, improve health and benefit the well-being of our participants. We use this reasoning to encourage people to join our programs. What we also should be doing is clearly demonstrating these benefits by producing hard data.
When planning a program, research relevant published guidelines so that you understand what criteria will produce the results you intend. Established bodies of research provide clear pathways to success. Keeping abreast of evolving science and avoiding the hype surrounding trendy ideas establishes your personal and program credibility with residents and administration, helps keep your participating residents safe, and sets your program above many others.
Research
Using research to build a wellness program by Denise Heimlich, MS
All of us in the wellness industry like to believe that our programs increase fitness, improve health and benefit the well-being of our participants. We use this reasoning to encourage people to join our programs. What we also should be doing is clearly demonstrating these benefits by producing hard data.
When planning a program, research relevant published guidelines so that you understand what criteria will produce the results you intend. Established bodies of research provide clear pathways to success. Keeping abreast of evolving science and avoiding the hype surrounding trendy ideas establishes your personal and program credibility with residents and administration, helps keep your participating residents safe, and sets your program above many others.
Program design
The Olympics spirit recharges a program by Mary Franklin and Dawn Boren
For many years, the annual “Signature Event” at Shell Point Retirement Community was held on a single day to create a place where residents came together for food, fellowship and entertainment. As the property grew and doubled in size, we were faced with several challenges. We saw long lines, passive activities, higher costs and operational issues. It was time to rethink the event.
The Shell Point Olympics brought new life to the Signature Event. The goals were lofty: To hold an event that was interactive, could filter through all the levels of living, and foster a sense of community. After a full week of competition and camaraderie among Shell Point residents in independent living, assisted living and continuing care, it was clear that the Olympics met the goals.
