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.
Jeff Nachtigall: Enabling older adults to unleash their creativity through art by Marilynn Larkin, MA
Jeff Nachtigall is an established artist whose work has been exhibited in North America, Europe and China over the past 25 years. He is also a facilitator, speaker and social entrepreneur who has led dozens of artist residencies and workshops, lectured in communities across Canada and the United States, and keynoted at national conferences on the arts and aging. Importantly for readers of the Journal on Active Aging, Nachtigall also worked for eight years as a full-time artist-in-residence at Sherbrooke Community Centre, an assisted living residence in Saskatoon, Canada. There, he founded and developed Open Studio Projects, a model of artistic engagement that challenges traditional clinical and activity-based approaches to art in older-adult and long-term care settings.
moreEmotional wellness
Active Aging Week: Theme days expand options
Living well in later life: It's this vision for older adults everywhere that inspires the International Council on Active Aging® and the ICAA community to strive to change the way we age. Active Aging Week® is a key avenue for outreach. The campaign website offers support materials to assist host organizations as they plan and promote their participation. Local event organizers will find additional resources and tools with Active Aging Week theme days.
moreICAA initiatives
Oak Harbor's Attitude of Gratitude inspires positivity and connectedness
The "Attitude of Gratitude" program launched in January 2014 to encourage residents to develop a new attitude for the New Year. The two-month program turned into a memorable experience for everyone at Oak Harbor, and an atmosphere of positivity permeated community life. "It was one of the most awesome programs we’ve ever done," shares Wellness Director Susan Wright.
moreInnovator awards
ICAA Champion: introducing Iowa City Senior Center
Senior center coordinator Linda Kopping "feels fortunate" to be in Iowa City, Iowa-"a community that supports its older adults in such a positive and noteworthy way." The California-based Milken Institute recently placed Iowa City first on its list of "Best Cities for Successful Aging" (small metro), pointing to numerous enablers of successful aging. Additional community resources include a nationally accredited senior center whose mission is to promote optimal aging.
moreICAA initiatives
A wellness approach to posture: feeling the impact by Marilynn Larkin, MA
There’s no question that improving posture with specific physical exercises brings a wide range of physical benefits over the long term. But recent research suggests the benefits go beyond the physical wellness dimension-that, in fact, posture is inexorably linked to feelings, and shifting one’s posture, even for a few minutes, can influence everything from mood and stress levels to self-confidence, self-esteem and self-perception.
moreEmotional wellness
The Power of Posture: a program to encourage optimal posture by Terry Eckmann, PhD, and Dayna Stoddart, BScPT
Many parents encourage their children to “sit up straight” or “stand tall” to help them develop good posture. Why? Adults understand the impact of good posture on appearance. Fewer may realize that good posture is vital to overall health and well-being. The Power of Posture program promotes body awareness and alignment, functional movement patterns, and proper movements to encourage optimal posture.
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