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.
The perfect fit: An Origin active lifestyle community opens in a world-class setting by Colin Milner
The Canadian Rocky Mountains have become a destination for individuals who love the outdoors as well as those who seek adventure throughout the year. Skiing, snowshoeing, ice or rock climbing, mountain biking, hiking, fishing, kayaking—there’s no better place to experience active mountain living than in the Alberta towns of Canmore and Banff, Lake Louise and Jasper. These alpine communities are not only filled with trendy shops, art galleries, hotels and restaurants, but also offer plenty of activities, festivals, and arts and cultural events. Yet few developers have considered the region as a destination for retirement living. Until now. Neil Prashad and Frank Kernick have precisely this vision for Canmore, a former mining town located 50 miles west of Calgary in the scenic Bow Valley.
moreBusiness profiles
Steady for Life's Steady & Sharp Brain Carnival educates participants about brain health
Building Blocks for Healthy, Graceful Aging”--that’s the tagline inscribed on the logo of Steady for Life Inc., a charitable nonprofit organization located in Huntsville, Alabama. Nurturing those building blocks is the driving passion of the organization’s founders. Steady for Life “was started by four senior-fitness instructors and a healthcare marketeer who wanted to make a difference in the lives of older adults in a physical, emotional and social way,” says Executive Director Kim Davis. Its primary mission involves “equipping mature adults with strength, flexibility and balance techniques to diminish the risk of falls." The company also offers “social activities, travel opportunities, health seminars, screenings and special programs to help clients maintain independence, happiness and lasting friendships.” One such offering is the Steady & Sharp Brain Carnival.
moreInnovator awards
Friend or foe? Dealing with time by Kelly A. Stranburg, MEd, CEP, CSCS
In my last article, we learned about the power of brainstorming. Constant brainstorming has not only enabled us to generate direction for the culture-change journey at Sharon Towers, our not-for-profit continuing care retirement community in Charlotte, North Carolina, but also shown us how best to redirect ourselves when necessary. Additionally, brainstorming has allowed us to create a voice for and buy-in from team members and residents involved with this movement. My previous article addressed one of the greatest challenges of culture change as well. Time.
moreCulture Change
Active Aging Week: Host perspectives paint a fuller picture
As Active Aging Week 2016 draws nearer, participating organizations will be busily planning schedules of events that are uniquely theirs--that’s part of the fun of hosting the annual health-promotion campaign that celebrates aging and living well. Many local hosts will share their experiences and photographs with the International Council on Active Aging, which organizes the initiative on a national level. Some stories will appear in the Journal on Active Aging’s article showcasing the successes and spirit of the week. But local hosts typically reveal more than their successes to ICAA. This article presents perspectives shared by five host organizations over the last few years. These case studies paint a fuller picture that may provide pointers and spark ideas for those participating in this year’s campaign.
moreICAA initiatives
ICAA Champion: introducing Barbara Wilkerson
With "a smile for everyone," Barbara Wilkerson is "a vibrant part" of the community at Atria Mableton, a property located in Austell, Georgia, on the outskirts of Atlanta. The Atria Senior Living community is one of five owned and operated in the Peach State by the Louisville, Kentucky-based provider. To promote a fulfilling life for residents, the community offers Atria’s Engage Life program. Wilkerson is a role model for engaged living.
moreICAA initiatives
Strategic approaches to choosing health and wellness information by Patricia Ryan, MS
The aging population is suddenly a very popular topic, generating an amazing amount of information. Lifestyle, healthcare, housing, pensions, retirement, risks--the topics are so diverse and there is so much in each one that it boggles the mind. Then, there is the information you and your organization collect. If you feel buried by information overload, you are not alone. You can stay current and skip through information overload by keeping the word need at the top of your professional vocabulary, and by using the journalist’s watchwords: who, what, where, when and why.
more
