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.
Ebikes: Getting a charge out of recreation by Gwen Hyatt, MS
Riding an ebike, or electric bike, for the first time feels like you are a kid again but with super powers. Whether you are a long-time cyclist or just thinking about getting on a bike, an ebike can make the sport of cycling seem easy and joyful, as well as provide an alternative mode of transportation. What's more, ebikes not only offer a way for older adults with some physical limitations to enjoy the great outdoors, but they also provide a welcome option for shorter trips around the local community. What exactly is an ebike? It's a regular bike equipped with a small electric battery and motor to boost pedaling speed and power. ...Ebikes are quite different from mopeds, scooters and motorbikes: Most do not go faster than 20 mph, are silent and do not spew exhaust fumes. Ebike popularity is swelling, and their use can become an integral part of your older-adult recreational community, both for fitness and for fun.
moreTechnology
What's trending in digital health technologies to support aging in place?
The number of Americans aged 65 or older reached 50 million in 2016 and is expected to reach 95 million by the year 2060. The impact of this age wave--a phenomenon seen worldwide as well as in the United States--has significant implications for products and services, not the least of which is healthcare. For more than two decades, studies have shown that elders want to age in place and remain among family and friends in familiar environments. Though there are currently many assistive devices and home-based services that exist to help communities and families handle challenges of aging, a trend is emerging to define and coordinate global strategies for creating digital health systems into a roadmap to the future ...
moreIndustry development
Podcasting: An effective way to tell your story and share industry-related information by Marilynn Larkin, MA
Podcasting, a medium that has been around for more than 20 years, is enjoying a renaissance. ...In its coverage of the Hot Pod Summit, a gathering of key podcast industry decision-makers, Fast Company stated we are in the "golden age" of podcasting. In a recent report, "The Podcast Consumer 2018," Edison Research documented that among monthly podcast listeners, 34% are ages 18-34; 36%, 35-54; and 19%, 55 and older. These data suggest that podcasts have the potential to reach both industry staff and consumers. Further, in its summary, Edison Research notes, "There is tremendous opportunity to grow with persons 55+." Recognizing the potential, three industry organizations recently launched podcasts. The Journal on Active Aging interviewed the professionals involved to learn why and how they started their podcasts, and what the feedback has been so far.
moreMarketing
The tech connection: Alleviating loneliness as we age by Stephanie Ludwig, MDiv, MA, PhD
"Loneliness breaks the spirit," goes the old Jewish proverb. We are wired to be connected, and miserable when we are not. Although the sense of disengagement from others that characterizes loneliness is painful at any time in life, such disconnection can feel acutely unbearable as we age. ...To keep older adults connected to family and social networks, technologies on the market and in development can help reduce any associated loneliness. This includes both high-tech and low-tech solutions.
moreGerontology
Taming the tech tidal wave by Tony Galvan, MS
The intersection of technology and senior living is here today and as time passes, communities, along with the organizations that mange them, are needing to come up with practical, multifaceted strategies to approach this "tidal wave of tech." Whereas some tech-based solutions have been in existence for years--if not also decades--many technologies are still much in their infancy. This makes this space both exciting and overwhelming as senior living providers must strike a balance between meeting the needs of current and future residents while also creating an advantage in competitive marketplaces.
moreManagement
Autonomous vehicles: Driving independence, mobility and wellness in active-aging communities by Marilynn Larkin, MA
Autonomous (self-driving) vehicles represent a growing trend that now is emerging in the active-aging market--with a difference. Unlike high-profile self-driving cars that operate on main thoroughfares, the autonomous vehicles being tested in senior living communities stay within the boundaries of the community, operating on preplanned routes. Such was the case for Lendlease-owned Elliot Gardens, a retirement community located in Port Elliot, South Australia, that recently served as a testing ground for a two-month study with Aurrigo Pty Ltd. ....
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