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.
Mind & Muscle: A holistic approach to wellness by Tish Nystrom, RN and Amy Lewis
Since brain health and physical activity play critical roles in the overall wellness of older adults, the Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury (RWC) community in Irvington, Virginia, devised the Mind & Muscle program, which combines traditional educational presentations, an interactive session, and an ambitious 5-kilometer run/1-mile fun walk.
moreProgram profiles
Give your brain a workout! by Peggy Buchanan, MA
The people in the walking group were bored. To keep the walk interesting, we would travel to different locations and admire the scenery, chatting while walking. Because of the range of functional abilities in the group, there was a limited number of places where we could go. But walking can get boring, so the only way to stimulate excitement was to change locations, or hope some new people joined the group so regulars had a different person to talk with.
moreCognitive health
Keeping mentally active by Brenda Patoine
How the brain ages—and why some people’s brains hold up better than others—is a complex puzzle involving an interplay of genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Scientists have spent decades tracking people’s activities and habits as they age to determine what distinguishes people who retain good mental faculties from those who fare less well. Many of these studies are ongoing, so we can expect new clues to be revealed as researchers learn more.
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HUR Health and Fitness Equipment offers a "Smart" solution for active aging
When CEO Colin Milner founded the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) in 2001, he aimed to connect like-minded organizations and professionals across sectors to form an industry dedicated to better health, wellness and quality of life for older adults. Among the active-aging industry’s natural allies were providers of products and services. At that time, however, health and wellness solutions—so vital to advancing active aging—were too often nonexistent for this market or a poor fit to address its diverse needs and aspirations. To encourage providers to learn more about the age 50-plus population and to evolve in their thinking and offerings, ICAA launched an award to recognize creative products and services for the active older adult. The most recent recipient of ICAA’s Innovative Solutions Award is HUR Health and Fitness Equipment’s Smart Card System, integrated with HUR strength machines and iBalance Testing Systems.
moreInnovator awards
Launching a Facebook contest by Amy Schuster, BA, and Cara Slider, MS
Social media has grown as a useful tool to engage customers and develop relationships in the senior living industry. For organizations with multiple locations, however, most marketing and public relations efforts focus on individual communities and cluster markets. Managing a Facebook page for each community could require a full-time marketing team to make updates and gather information, potentially disrupting daily community operations. Atria Senior Living, a national provider of independent and assisted living communities in the United States, opted to create a corporate Facebook presence in 2010 as a way to connect with a diverse audience, including families and employees. To increase engagement and brand awareness on this page, the Louisville, Kentucky-based organization held its first social media contest in 2012.
moreMarketing
Brookdale's Ageless Spirit initiative supports spiritual wellness in later life
Established in 1978, Brookdale Senior Living ... “is committed to providing an exceptional living experience,” comments Public Relations Manager Andrea Turner. Optimum Life®, Brookdale’s philosophy of well-being, “establishes the foundation for a positive aging experience by supporting the whole-person wellness of residents and associates through six key dimensions,” Turner says. “Each year, the Optimum Life team identifies one dimension of wellness as the foundation for developing an annual wellness theme,” states Carol Cummings, BSN, RN, CHWC, director of Optimum Life development. “As part of the theme, a campaign is launched that includes educational and health promotion programs developed to enrich the lives of residents and associates and further position Brookdale as a leader in senior health and wellness. The most recent program, The Ageless Spirit, focuses on the spiritual wellness dimension.”
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