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.
Ortrude White: A community learns the power of participation by Lisa Kiely, BFA, CPT, CAD, CEHA
As an active-aging strategist at Lenbrook, a Georgia life-plan community in the heart of Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood, I work with my team to plan and coordinate events with and for our residents. Many of these events involve unique performances, special lectures or interesting activities that I always try to capture on film or video. One day in 2016, when my scheduled photographer did not show up, I asked Lenbrook resident Myles Smith, an accomplished photographer, to help out. Little did I know this simple request would, in time, make a meaningful difference in the lives of Myles and his wife Ortrude, as well as to our community.
moreRebranding aging
"Ignite your passion": Hosts share what they did for Active Aging Week 2017
Whether through host reports or emails, websites or blogs, traditional or social media, Active Aging Week hosts reported on what they did for Active Aging Week 2017 and shared stories of meaningful events. To review all these offerings is to be impressed anew at the array of fun, engaging and educational opportunities available to participants. Featured are 10 mini-profiles and a sampling of news to give a flavor of the week.
moreICAA initiatives
Inspiring wellness through Active Aging Week
A life well lived: It's a hope we all cherish. Every September, Active Aging Week illuminates that hope by highlighting our ability to live well throughout the life span and celebrating aging. Organizations, professionals, older adults and supporters of all ages come together in the last week of September to share--and be inspired by--a week of positive life experiences and can do spirit.
moreICAA initiatives
Happiness and health, part one: How positive emotions affect physical well-being by Shirley Archer, JD, MA
How happy are you? The answer to this question may predict how healthy you are or how long you'll live. "Happiness science" offers strong and growing evidence, particularly over the past decade, that positive emotions impact mental and physical health, resulting not only in a better quality of life, but also a longer and healthier life. ... Today, compelled by research findings, leading health professionals look at ways to integrate efforts to promote positive well-being into healthcare and public health policy. So, how might this benefit you as an individual and as a professional who works in an active-aging setting? Here's a look at what the latest research tells us about the significant relationship between happiness and health.
moreEmotional wellness
Ageless communities: One approach to transforming senior living by Marilynn Larkin, MA
Cross-generational programming is fast becoming an important way to connect older adults in senior living with the broader community, thereby enhancing wellness for all participants and helping to overcome ageist stereotypes. ... Yet, whether older adults are brought into the larger community to participate in such programs, or young people visit senior living communities for an event, for the most part, older participants return to age-restricted residences at the end of the day. As Paul Irving, chairman of Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging, Santa Monica, California, has cautioned, the current model must change in order to attract new customers. The question that many forward-thinking providers and developers grapple with is how best to transform their models to embrace change. For some seniors centers wrestling with a similar challenge, one approach has been to remove age restrictions, creating an environment that breaks down barriers and welcomes everyone.
moreIndustry development
Engaging with ElliQ by Marilynn Larkin, MA
"Robots that engage with people are absolutely the future. There's no question that's where robotics is moving," states Brian Scassellatis, PhD, a professor of computer science, cognitive science and mechanical engineering and director of the Social Robotics Lab at Yale University. ... Among the offerings moving right along with this trend is the award-winning "ElliQ, the Active Aging Companion," developed by Intuition Robotics.
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