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.
A healthy microbiome equals healthy aging by Tereza Hubkova, MD
More than a hundred years ago, Russian microbiologist and immunologist Ilya Ilich Metchnikoff attributed the longevity of Bulgarian peasants to their consumption of kefir. Kefir, as he noted, contained Lactobacillus bulgaricus, a bacterium-producing lactic acid lending the beverage its sour taste. How much of Metchnikoff's observation of the anti-aging effects of friendly microbes--or probiotics--is true? And, does illness and death truly begin in the colon? The human body can be described as a "meta-organism"--a hybrid of some 30 trillion human cells with another estimated 100 trillion bacteria, fungi, protozoa, archaea and viruses. In other words, for each native cell in the human body, we play host to three-or-more symbiotic microbial cells. Who do you think runs the show?
moreGerontology
'Inviting difficult conversation by Karen Woodard Chavez
Let's start with a moment of truth. When someone tells you, "We need to talk," what is your first response? Is it, "Absolutely--what would you like to discuss?" Or do you experience a sinking feeling of dread and respond with some version of "What did I do wrong?" Similarly, what do you feel when you're the one saying, "We need to talk"? If you are more inclined to avoid difficult conversations than invite them, you should realize that you are trading short-term comfort for long-term dysfunction. For the best long-term results, you must be brave enough to start a conversation that matters. Otherwise, you will constantly repeat what you do not repair.
moreCommunication
Nature walking and health: An update on benefits to mind, body and spirit of time in nature by Shirley Archer, JD, MA
Have you felt awe at nature's beauty after watching a glowing, multicolored sunset? Or invigorated while inhaling the scent of the ocean, as you hear waves crash, feel cool mist against your skin and dig bare toes into sand? Or serene from listening to a stream gurgle and leaves rustle in a summer breeze? These are all examples of nature's power to capture attention, transform mood and offer peaceful perspective on our place in nature's vast scheme. Today, compelling and growing scientific evidence offers proof that we reap health benefits from time spent in nature.
moreEnvironmental wellness
'Continuous learning: The key to success by Kathie C. Garbe, PhD, MCHES
Remember being curious and excited about discovering how things work, where things are in the world, why things are the way they are, and what something means? We were all born with the desire to learn and grow. For 12-16+ years, we are educational sponges, absorbing information on many subjects and learning the skills to apply knowledge. After that, many of us become lifelong-learners and continue to hold on to that spark. Others of us become more complacent, settled, and need to light the spark that reignites love of learning. To enhance our professional lives, we must clear the cobwebs and engage our brains in ways that improve our knowledge and skills.
moreCareer development
Enhancing health, wellness and community for older LGBT adults by Marilynn Larkin, MA
About 2.4 million adults 65 and older currently identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) in the United States, and that population is expected to grow significantly in coming years, along with the entire older-adult population. Other nations will likewise see increased numbers of older LGBT adults as the Boomers age. While these individuals face the same issues as many others who are aging--social isolation, loneliness, housing affordability, and ageism--research shows they have additional concerns that can take a toll on health and wellness. Organizations dedicated to older-adult quality of life can support the vulnerable--and growing--LGBT aging population with inviting programs, supportive services and staff, and welcoming, safe places to live. Two recent initiatives that combine affordable housing with socialization and accessible services will help provide solutions.
moreGerontology
A master class on the 85+ population by Colin Milner
What do we really know about people who are 85 years of age and older? Statistically, we know that the "oldest-old" are the fastest-growing segment of the older population worldwide, and that this demographic is now 52 times larger in the United States than it was in 1900: 6.4 million in 2016 versus approximately 122,000 in 1900. The United States Census Bureau also predicts that this demographic cohort will more than double, to 14.6 million, in 2040. While the numbers can inform us, they can't help us understand the human side of the oldest-old. This lack of knowledge can hamper efforts to develop and market products and services that appeal to adults 85 and older. I asked John Leland, an award-winning journalist with the New York Times and author of Happiness Is a Choice You Make: Lessons from a Year Among the Oldest Old, to sit down with me and share wisdom from his book with Journal on Active Aging readers.
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