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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- Innovator awards
Recognizing the Innovators: ICAA introduces its 2009 award-winners
Look up “innovation” on Wikipedia, and you’ll find the following sentence in this entry:
“For innovation to occur, something more than the generation of a creative idea or insight is required: the insight must be put into action to make a genuine difference, resulting for example in new or altered business processes within the organization, or changes in the products and services provided.”
An idea or insight put into action to make a difference—that simple phrase describes innovation at its most elemental. Yet it is anything but simple to innovate successfully.
Innovator awards
Auburn Hills' 100 Days to Health Challenge encourages lasting lifestyle change
In 2007, Senior Services developed the 100 Days to Health Challenge, a wellness program designed to encourage lasting lifestyle change and improve quality of life. This program has run for three successive summers, and aims to help Auburn Hills’ older-adult community stay “informed, educated, socialized and as active as possible at their level of fitness,” Chapman states. With participation increasing every year and many past participants returning, “we feel our program is making a great impact on all the people involved, and plan to repeat the program every summer,” she says.
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Conductorcise: keeping older adults 'engaged, thinking and in motion'
If you were looking for an active-aging poster child, you might choose David Dworkin. In 2002, at age 68, Dworkin founded a unique “symphonic aerobics” program, which has since become internationally recognized. Conductorcise®—a Sound Workout for Mind, Body and Soul—is “a symphony performance, music history lesson and aerobics workout all rolled into one,” suggests The Times-Picayune, New Orleans’ daily newspaper.
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The Dashaway: inspiring older adults to lead more independent, active lives
It has been said that necessity is the mother of all invention. And, in the case of the Dashaway’s development, that couldn’t be more true.
Stanley Dashew, the company founder, suffers from a number of ailments, including Parkinson’s disease, degenerative scoliosis, and spinal stenosis. In 2006 he was bedridden and living in constant pain. Prescription pain medications were further complicating his condition.
Innovator awards
Country Meadows' Fitness Walking Trail maximizes residents' abilities and independence
The Fitness Walking Trail “was a creative way to provide a series of exercises that are specific to the typical challenges our residents take on each day,” says Executive Director of Fitness Kim Eichinger, who designed the program. “We observe our residents during outings, special events and daily activities to determine what type of movements are becoming difficult for them. Then we select exercises for our trail (a directed walking path) that simulate these activities.” Adds Eichinger, “The trail has been a very versatile tool for demonstrating to the residents areas where they are strong, as well as areas for improvement.”
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The BalanceGym: a versatile solution for the older-adult market
The BalanceGym, launched in 2008, is a product designed to address both the physical and emotional needs of users, particularly those with balance impairments. This multifunctional standing exercise station was invented by Frederick Buechel, Jr., MD, chief of orthopaedic surgery at the NCH Healthcare System in Naples, Florida, and physical therapist Colin Hoobler, MPT, MS, the host of “The Fitness Show” on PBS. They developed the BalanceGym from inspiration and insight gained from managing their patients’ musculoskeletal needs, as well as their personal dedication to exercise and fitness. BalanceGym, LLC, was the company formed to bring this equipment to the market.
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