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.
Motivating frail older adults to be physically active by Barbara Resnick, PhD, CRNP, and Marcia G. Ory, PhD, MPH
Aging adults who engage in regular physical activity increase the likelihood they will extend years of active independent life, reduce disability, and improve quality of life in midlife and beyond. Activities can include such things as walking, household or personal care activities, as well as structured exercise classes. Unfortunately, most older adults are inactive. There is, however, greater awareness in North America of the benefits associated with physical activity in later life. This is demonstrated by the many news reports on the topic, the development of age-specific exercise programs, and the growing number of fitness or wellness centers in such settings as retirement communities.
moreMotivation
Moving active aging past the tipping point
With the mutual goal of building a strong foundation to support active aging, more than 300 ICAA colleagues spent 3 days at the 2005 Active Aging Conference, held in December at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. Surrounded by those who shared a mission to benefit older adults within the 6 dimensions of wellness, conference participants:
• talked with peers and presenters, sharing experiences and asking questions;
• absorbed technical education on subjects ranging from positioning marketing materials and creating age-friendly messages, to developing wellness and wellness centers, and understanding exercises for overall health or chronic disease; and
• discovered and experienced many products and services available to wellness and recreation centers.
ICAA initiatives
Listening to the body, part 2: muscular conditioning by Mary E. Sanders, PhD
Teaching participants how to tune into the body during exercise provides them with valuable feedback they can use to determine their individual normal responses. By developing these listening skills, individuals are better prepared to find the threshold where the effort required for health gains balances with personal comfort, encouraging long-term exercise adherence. Those who understand the right feel of the work can take charge of their exercise intensity and individualize movements as needed.
moreAquatics
How Covenant Retirement Communities became an agent of change
Just say the word wellness, and watch the confused look that comes over the faces of many people who seek to improve the health and well-being of older adults. It’s easy to understand their bewilderment. Even as use of this term continues to grow, wellness can seem an ill-defined concept.
moreProgram profiles
Holiday Retirement: marketing helps incentive program boost participation
Thinking outside the box. That phrase characterizes the innovative marketing and planning behind an annual exercise incentive program offered by Holiday Retirement Corp., a leading owner and operator of independent-living retirement facilities.
Holiday considers physical fitness critical to keeping its more than 34,000 residents healthy, happy and independent. The Salem, Oregon-based company provides an activity director, as well as exercise classes and age-friendly exercise equipment, at nearly all of its 285 communities. Some properties also feature fitness trails and swimming pools. Despite these services and amenities, Holiday faces that challenge shared by most aging organizations: how to increase physical activity participation by older adults.
Innovator awards
View your facility through the eyes of your consumer by Colin Milner and Michael Voloudakis, PhD, MPH
It’s not my job. These 4 words can be the downfall of any customer-driven business. Think about it. How often do you frequent a business that reluctantly offers you service?
Perhaps a restaurant you just visited provides a good example. The host walked you to your table, and the server arrived at your table on time, took your order, and brought you your food while it was still hot. These workers gave you service. But they added nothing to your experience—not because they didn’t do their jobs, but because that’s all they did. Creating an experience for you wasn’t in their job descriptions. Or so they thought.
