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.
Catering to people with motor impairments by Anne Clark
In an active adult community where most residents are independent and vibrant, there is a segment of the population that is often neglected: people affected by neurological disorders. The Lite Chair class was conceived to help people with conditions such as a stroke, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s disease.
moreExercise
Refresher course on calcium Prepared by the Office of Dietary Supplements, National Institutes of Health
Calcium, the most abundant mineral in the human body, has several important functions. More than 99% of total body calcium is stored in the bones and teeth where it functions to support their structure. The remaining one percent is found throughout the body in blood, muscle and the fluid between cells. Calcium is needed for muscle contraction, blood vessel contraction and expansion, the secretion of hormones and enzymes, and sending messages through the nervous system. A constant level of calcium is maintained in body fluid and tissues so that these vital body processes function efficiently.
Bone undergoes continuous remodeling, with constant resorption (breakdown of bone) and deposition of calcium into newly deposited bone (bone formation). The balance between bone resorption and deposition changes as people age. During childhood there is a higher amount of bone formation and less breakdown. In early and middle adulthood, these processes are relatively equal.
Osteoporosis
Osteoporosis affects ethnic groups
Osteoporosis is a metabolic bone disease characterized by low bone mass, which makes bones fragile and susceptible to fracture. Osteoporosis is known as a silent disease because symptoms and pain do not appear until a fracture occurs.
moreOsteoporosis
The BEST exercise program for osteoporosis prevention by Lauve Metcalfe, MS
Osteoporosis is a significant health problem in the United States. More than 25 million people are affected, most of whom (80%) are women. Women who are not receiving hormone replacement therapy, are not consuming adequate amounts of calcium and are inactive can lose 20% to 30% of their bone mass between 40 and 70 years of age. As a result, women have a 40% fracture risk throughout their lifetime, with more than 1.5 million fractures per year attributed to osteoporosis (Going, Lohman, Houtkooper, et al, 2003).
moreOsteoporosis
Nuts and bolts from the Active Aging Conference
Presenters at the ICAA Active Aging Conference make a point of detailing the nuts and bolts that build programs. As the rapidly growing knowledge of research is exported into programs, and the experience of wellness leaders is shared among others in the field, the aging adult is the beneficiary.
moreICAA initiatives
Offense, offense, offense: running the community wellness ball by Melissa Bossert, Sarah McCallin and Janelle Renda
There are wonderful programs offered in our field to improve the well-being of our clientele. Yet a program isn’t successful unless people participate, and many communities struggle with this. What’s the perfect solution to pull people into your wellness program?
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