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.
Outcomes tell your wellness story by Patricia Ryan, MS
Hardly a day of work goes by anymore without hearing the word outcomes. Managers and boards of directors want to know if the wellness program is getting results, as do the older adults who are thinking about joining your program or moving into your community. If they spend the money on wellness, what will they get in return? Outcomes help answer this question. An “outcome” is an end result, often quantified as a number. For example, the number of participants or the percent of leg strength gained following an eight-week exercise class, or the “percent satisfied” score on a survey. Outcomes have been a cornerstone of the medical model, where the results of tests and examinations are charted to guide care decisions. For the same reason, outcomes are valuable for the wellness model. Program outcomes are the tool used to make sure a program is effective for the older adults being served.
moreManagement
Boost lifestyle activity to support clients in aging well by John C. Griffin, MSc
The demographics of our aging society dictate that quality of life will continue to be an important health promotion objective for all concerned with older-adult health and its broader societal impact. The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified a number of components of people’s perceptions of their quality of life, including health, physical function, social relations, occupation, standard of living, and sexual functioning. When used with a large number of Brazilian adults ages 60 and over, the WHO Quality of Life Instrument–Older Adults Module indicated that increases in levels of physical activity can contribute to improvements in quality of life.
moreExercise
Partnerships present opportunities to better serve constituents by Marilynn Larkin, MA
Partnerships can provide a wealth of opportunity when minds and missions meet. Active-aging organizations are increasingly turning to partnerships—a major trend in the industry—to expand their services or business. In a landmark book on public-private partnerships for public health, Harvard professor Michael Reich, PhD, acknowledges that such partnerships are promoted on the assumption that they would “enable different people and organizations to support each other by leveraging, combining, and capitalizing on their complementary strengths and capabilities.” Interviews for this article suggest similar assumptions help to drive partnerships in the active-aging arena.
moreManagement
Discover the possibilities of Active Aging Week
When older adults discover active aging, they discover an approach to aging that recognizes people can live as fully as possible regardless of age or health conditions. The active-aging philosophy emphasizes what individuals can do, rather than what they can’t. It also celebrates society’s older members as full participants in the cultural, civic and personal domains of life. Each year, through Active Aging Week, organizations across North America encourage age 50-plus adults to be active and lead heathier, more vital lives, providing a wealth of wellness opportunities for them to explore. These organizations take part in the health promotion event for any number of reasons. Among them is the chance to make a difference and help older adults improve their quality of life.
moreICAA initiatives
Discovery is the theme of Active Aging Week
It seems as if every year the hosts of Active Aging Week outdo themselves in using a theme to anchor the single or multiple events that they offer. Whether reliable classes or brand-new offerings, the hosts are creative and sometimes ingenious in creating Active Aging Week events that are educational, fun, share the active-aging message and are free to older adults (or very low cost).
moreSpecial events
Cook up a healthy eating program by Patricia Ryan
Within the physical dimension of wellness are physical activity, medical checkups, adequate sleep—and nutrition. The integration of both physical activity and nutrition is important to a healthy lifestyle. Nutrition provides the body’s fuel, and physical activity helps maintain functional ability. Combined, physical activity and good nutrition help support healthy aging.
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