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- Motivation
A wellness approach to posture: feeling the impact by Marilynn Larkin, MA
There’s no question that improving posture with specific physical exercises brings a wide range of physical benefits over the long term. But recent research suggests the benefits go beyond the physical wellness dimension-that, in fact, posture is inexorably linked to feelings, and shifting one’s posture, even for a few minutes, can influence everything from mood and stress levels to self-confidence, self-esteem and self-perception.
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From wellness to transformation: next steps for active-aging leaders by Marilynn Larkin, MA
"While we can all celebrate the advance of wellness programs in our industry, creating programs for our constituencies isn’t enough," states Colin Milner, CEO of the International Council on Active Aging. "For those wellness programs to have greater meaning and authenticity, the people delivering them also must be committed to their own growth and to overcoming self-limiting stereotypes. If we truly want to help our clients and customers transform their lives, we must be actively transforming our own."
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Person-centered approaches to connect with people with dementia in the moment by Marilynn Larkin, MA
Emerging research confirms the importance of "person-centered care" in maximizing quality of life and well-being for people with dementia. The Journal on Active Aging interviewed three experts who take a person-centered approach to dementia care. Their programs train staff to move beyond structured programming to include meaningful interactions-informed by deep knowledge of the individuals they work with-that take place in the moment, during unstructured time.
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Overcoming obstacles to exercise among people with arthritis: How can you help? by Julie J. Keysor, PT, PhD, and Aileen Ledingham, PT, MS
Joint pain and stiffness are cardinal signs of knee and hip osteoarthritis. Joint pain and stiffness make it difficult to move and people inevitably slow down. That doesn’t really help, though. Inactivity makes muscles weak, which compounds the pain and stiffness. Inactivity in itself can result in pain and stiffness. How does one break the cycle? By knowing barriers to exercise and behavior-change strategies, you can guide older adults with this chronic condition in achieving more physically active lifestyles.
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Changing lifestyle behaviors: three approaches that work by Marilynn Larkin, MA
Behavior change is difficult for anyone at any age, and older adults are no exception. The journal Modern Healthcare reported on a working paper that documented what many people already know from experience: Knowledge alone is a poor motivator. In this article, three experts share behavior-change strategies to promote better health, well-being and quality of life among older adults.
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Spring into Action: a senior community associate and resident wellness partnership by Connie Miller
Active-aging professionals provide a wide range of programming to help older adults improve their health and wellness, but motivating people to take part and make healthy lifestyle changes can be challenging. Kisco Senior Living, based in Carlsbad, California, recently created a program that inspired residents to make and reach healthy living goals.
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