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
The six Ps of marketing by Helen Foster
For the past 15 years or so, I’ve supported developers and government entities in their efforts to attract and accommodate age 50-plus adults, and I’m often asked to advise on “best practices”—illuminating what’s worked for others and, perhaps more importantly, what has not. The dialogue almost always begins with “product” observations. These might include popular development paradigms or product types, clubhouse or common space amenities, level plans and floor plans, unit mixes, and so on.
moreManagement
Measure what matters: using benchmarks as a tool for program evaluation by Patricia Ryan, MS
There are a lot of choices when designing a wellness program for older adults. What is the mix of wellness dimensions, and how can they be integrated? Should you add more classes and activities, or reduce the number? What is the appropriate level of staffing? Within the budget, where is the money spent?
moreManagement
Environmental wellness: where 'green', health, and well-being converge by Marilynn Larkin, MA
From “Waste Not, Want Not” to “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,” environmentally friendly concepts have been with us for some time. These concepts offer concrete steps that people can take to lessen their impact on the natural world, mitigate damage, and play a part in protecting the environment. But, even as people act for a healthier world, what is often lost is the environment’s impact on their health.
moreManagement
Fundraising: creating revenue to 'rev up' new programs by Rita Lopienski, MA, CAC
Cutbacks, cutbacks, cutbacks! “Due to the economy.” We hear these words daily, and how we hate them. Unfortunately, for too many of us, this past year has included budgetary cutbacks in activity and fitness programming, and even marketing. Yet, isn’t it the activities and events that we create for our older adults that are used most successfully to market our businesses? Isn’t marketing critical to communicate our programs and services to the public? It’s a Catch-22 that is hard to resolve.
moreManagement
Effective training extends beyond the classroom by Debra J. Schmidt
Training may begin in a classroom, but often the learning ends there. New skills are quickly forgotten if they are not reinforced by managers, follow-up activities, on-the-job training and ongoing feedback.
Here are six ways to increase training effectiveness in your organization:
1. Require an action plan and timeline
To maximize the results of training, each employee should write a personal plan before they leave the meeting or classroom. Commitment to learning increases when employees outline specific actions they will take to implement the concepts they have learned.
Management
Student internships: what you need to know to make programs work by Mary McCarthy, MPH
During this period of economic challenge, it may be difficult to request additional staff to help grow your program, even as you are asked to provide more options to those you serve. Time and budgetary limitations often make it difficult to provide a comprehensive older-adult wellness program. One solution to this challenge is to begin working with undergraduate students who are seeking work experience and need to fulfill degree requirements for graduation.
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