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.
The busy bees of Active Aging Week
When it was time to plan Active Aging Week last year, staff members in the activities and wellness departments at Brandermill Woods Retirement Community sat down for a brainstorming session. What would encourage residents to participate? How could the week include multiple dimensions of wellness?
moreProgram profiles
Advertise vegetables and fruits by Patricia Ryan, MS
Physical activity and nutrition are intertwined within the physical dimension of wellness. Both healthy food and activity are needed for overall health and the prevention or management of heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other conditions that are more common in older ages.
moreNutrition
Improve function before knee replacement surgery by Robert Topp, RN, PhD and Phil Page, MS, PT; Ann M. Swank, PhD; Peter M. Quesada, PhD; John Nyland, EdD, PT and Arthur Malkani, MD
Osteoarthritis is a common chronic health condition. Among the estimated 27 million adults in the United States who had osteoarthritis in 2005, 33.6% were ages 65 and older (Lawrence, Felson, et al., 2008). One in 10 Canadians has osteoarthritis, and approximately 85% are ages 70 or older (Public Health Agency Canada).
moreExercise
Innovative ideas increase participation: Report from ICAA Active Aging Conference
Each professional attending the ICAA Active Aging Conference brings knowledge and experience to the sessions. This isn’t surprising since 60% of 2008’s delegates stated they have worked with older adults for eight years or longer, according to the post-conference survey.
That knowledge—and the enthusiasm of the professionals serving older adults—was plentiful during the Innovation Exchange. This session is designed to encourage delegates to share their successful ideas.
Motivation
Link motivation and the stages of change to encourage exercise by Marie Dacey, EdD
Recent research that blended two models of health behavior change has contributed to our understanding of physical activity motivation (Dacey, Baltzell & Zaichkowsky, 2008). Both the transtheoretical model (Nigg & Riebe, 2002) and self-determination theory (Deci & Ryan, 2002) describe various kinds of motivation along continuums.
moreCommunication
GenCare's Whole Food, Whole Life program supports living well for residents
With more than 28 years experience in real estate development and 20 years in the retirement industry, Leon Grundstein founded GenCare Lifestyle “to provide a premier senior living environment with options that promote a healthy and robust atmosphere.” From his years of being a sprinter at the University of Michigan to his current passions for running, yoga and playing softball, Grundstein has always known that “what you do with your body influences your quality of life.” So he initiated the Whole Life Living™ concept and began creating what he believes is a new approach to wellness—one that simultaneously improves, and protects, the environment.
more
