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.
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.
moreTechnology
'ICAA B2B Snapshot Report: Nutrition needs in senior living
There was a time when food simply filled our need for energy, sustenance and social experiences. Today, food is recognized as much more because of its impact on our physical and cognitive health and performance--no matter our age. This knowledge, driven by science, has seen the messages about food choices for healthy eating widely promoted in the United States. To discover more about the knowledge of healthy eating among residents in senior living, and to learn how food services are delivered, the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) has conducted a brief survey of members and associates throughout the United States. Responses to the ICAA B2B Snapshot Survey illuminate nutrition needs in senior living and how organizations are addressing them. This article presents some research highlights.
moreIndustry development
Cognitive loss in later life: The challenge for family and community by Stephen C. Brewer, MD, ABFM
As we get older, the risk of developing diseases increases and our ability to effectively deal with those diseases goes down. All debilitating chronic illnesses are difficult to endure, but nonreversible dementias--such as Alzheimer's disease--are some of the hardest. As a family physician, I have followed many patients as they have gracefully aged through the years, and I have helped them deal with the slow changes that can occur in the body and the mind. One of the more difficult changes is a decline in mental function. If a person's memory declines, it becomes more than an issue with the patient--it becomes a family issue. Helping a family manage an individual who may have a chronic debilitating or potentially fatal disease can be challenging, but it is essential in order to provide the best care and quality of life for that person.
moreGerontology
'Fragrance in Frames': Touchmark's art therapy program enriches people's lives in memory care
Touchmark has made its mark as a retirement company by focusing on lifestyle for adults ages 55+, among other things. According to Vice President of Clinical Services Wendy Schrag, RN-BC, "One of the key ways Touchmark fulfills its mission--'To enrich people's lives'--is through its Full Life Wellness & Life Enrichment Program(TM)." Schrag stresses that this commitment to enriching lives extends to people living with Alzheimer's disease or other dementia. Fragrance in Frames, one offering, adds essential oils to paints for a therapeutic art activity. The program received a 2017 ICAA Innovators Achievement Award for its wellness-oriented and person-centered approach to memory care, and for maximizing opportunities in the cognitive/intellectual, emotional, social and physical wellness dimensions.
moreCognitive health
Disrupting the industry: Paul Irving calls on older-adult communities to embrace change by Marilynn Larkin, MA
Paul Irving is convinced that older-adult communities must undergo major changes to attract younger customers and healthy, vital older adults from ages 55 and up. "A major challenge to the industry is an emerging inclination not to move into these communities unless it's absolutely necessary," says Irving, who chairs the Milken Institute Center for the Future of Aging. In this interview for the Journal on Active Aging, Irving talks about industry challenges that must be addressed, and how to disrupt the perceptions that have mostly characterized older-adult communities up to now.
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