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.
Topic- Social wellness
Extending roadtime: Techniques to maintain driving wellness by Jennifer L. Womack, MS, OTR/L and Michaela Mangrum, OTS
Each year, more than one million Americans ages 70 and older stop driving and turn to other means to meet their transportation needs (Foley, 2002). Given that the United States is an automobile-dependent society, retirement from driving is often viewed negatively as a loss of independence rather than simply a transition to other forms of transportation. In our experience, older adults frequently report they dread the day when they are no longer able to drive due to the broader implications for their lives.
moreSocial wellness
Bringing the generations together through arts activities by Jenifer Milner
University students who write the life stories of retirement community residents. Young musicians who play in an orchestra with retired professionals. High school youth who partner with elders in art classes at a continuing care retirement community. And adults in their 20s who study digital photography in a group that crosses cultures and generations. These are examples of how participants of all ages can share in creative experiences that bridge the generations and foster enriching relationships.
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Senior theater offers something for everyone by Bonnie L. Vorenberg
I’ll never forget when the theater bug hit me. I was in my first play in college and all I wanted to do was to rehearse and be around those weird theater people, so I hung out in the theater lobby and left only for meals, quick trips to classes and short nights in the dorm. In the years since, I’ve spent a career helping mature men and women find this same exhilaration. My 28 years as a teacher and director, and now as a speaker and writer, have shown me that by using proven techniques and reliable materials, older adults can fall in love with theater, just like I did.
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Creating lasting legacies through life story writing by June C. Hussey
As the Baby Boomers age, interest in creating lasting legacies is heating up, spawning a boutique industry that offers you creative ways to help older individuals and groups share their life stories, as well as new avenues to expand your programming and business.
When people hear the word legacy, they often think of the work of world leaders. But individuals don’t have to be world leaders to have a story worth sharing; everybody has one. Nor is it necessary for them to go to the expense of hiring a professional biographer or to struggle from scratch to record life stories. Today, the tools and support needed to write and self-publish a life story are as close as a few clicks on the keyboard.
Social wellness
People power: the influence of helping relationships on physical activity by Michele Guerra, MS, CHES
Sometimes it takes a village to get people physically active. In my case, all it took was Judy.
Several years ago, when I was managing a health promotion program at our local hospital, my coworker and I decided to start walking together on our lunch break. Judy, tall and long-legged like myself, had a similar stride and energy level. Besides enjoying Judy’s company, I found that my midday walks relieved stress, while providing fun and needed exercise. Most importantly, though, they kept me moving.
Social wellness
Encouraging friendships and social support by Elizabeth Best-Martini, M.S., and Kim A. Botenhagen-DiGenova, M.A.
Many older participants in physical activity live in settings other than their own private homes. This relocation may have altered their previous relationships with family and friends.
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