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.
Seabury Spirit Week supports camaraderie and "the benefits of play at any age"
Citizens of the Hartford, Connecticut, region know they have a good thing in Seabury: The not-for-profit, interdenominational community was voted “Best Retirement Community” in Hartford Magazine’s Annual Readers Poll for three years running (2009–2011). Located on 66 acres in the scenic town of Bloomfield (population 20,000), Seabury is dedicated to quality of life for adults ages 62 and beyond. This “active life care community” offers a range of residences and services intended to support independent, vibrant lifestyles, plus the promise of security should residents need more care. Yet it is the community’s Wellness for Life philosophy that best expresses the Seabury spirit.
moreInnovator awards
Motivational understanding by Michael R. Mantell, PhD
My heart was touched recently in my favorite local deli in San Diego. No, it wasn’t the Reuben sandwich I treat myself to once a month, nor was it the sour pickles. It was an unexpected birthday party that I found so moving. “Would everyone please join us in celebrating Mary’s 102nd birthday?” the hostess’s voice sang out. I looked up and there was Mary, sitting next to her husband and beaming with excitement, joy and fulfillment. .. Of course, I asked her what she called “the million-dollar question”: “What’s your secret to your longevity and obvious happiness?” “Son,” she replied, “I choose to be happy, and regardless of any interferences, I’ve always been active.” ... How did these exemplary role models become, and apparently stay, motivated to choose happiness and remain focused on being active, when behavior change is so difficult and takes so long for so many? Part of the answer lies in understanding not only the generations that people come from, but also the key models that can explain the success and failure of change efforts.
moreMotivation
Front Porch partnership identifies needs, fosters collaborations and deploys technologies for older adults by Marilynn Larkin, MA
“Where fresh thinking thrives” is the phrase that the Front Porch Center for Technology, Innovation and Wellbeing (FPCTIW) uses to describe itself on its website. That phrase also applies to the organization’s approach to partnerships—whether with other organizations or vendors—because creative partnerships are key to its successful deployment of technologies to help older adults.
moreProgram profiles
Building the foundation for active aging by Colin Milner
Population aging is changing societies on a global level. Our current models have fallen short in addressing both challenges and opportunities presented by this demographic shift. Governments and organizations need new implementable models to address the accompanying wave of change. ... The International Council on Active Aging® (ICAA) has created Nine Principles of Active Aging, a model to guide governments, product and service providers, employers, and the healthcare industry in how they respond to population aging. By implementing and operating by these guiding principles, organizations and agencies will be able to build a foundation for their efforts and encourage active, engaged living for people of all ages.
moreICAA initiatives
The longevity dividend: health as an investment by S. Jay Olshansky, PhD, John Beard, PhD, and Axel Borsch-Supan, PhD
The ageing of humanity is accelerating. While a small number of people is known to have lived to extreme old age throughout recorded history, it is only in the modern era that an unprecedented number is approaching old age with regularity. ... [W]hile the demographic changes we are experiencing will almost certainly present challenges, we contend that older people are a highly significant and often underutilized resource to their community and to society as a whole. The key to unlocking this resource is health.
morePublic policy
Prescribing and developing strength training programs for older adults by Wayne T. Phillips, Ph.D., FACSM
In research publications, scientists increasingly report the safety and importance of strength training for older adults. Although this information is beginning to appear in the professional and lay press, it is slow in percolating down to the target population of older adults. National surveys show that less than 10% of people ages 65 years or older routinely engage in activities designed to maintain or increase strength. In individuals ages 75 and above, these numbers are even lower (Surgeon General's Report, 1996).
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