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- Program profiles
Music for wellness: innovative ways to bring music to your clients by Marilynn Larkin, MA
Few Journal on Active Aging readers would question that music has a positive impact in their communities and organizations, and much research supports that concept. Research also has shown that music has a beneficial and therapeutic role to play with older adults with dementia. This article highlights three different approaches for incorporating music into a community or center. While all the programs described have demonstrated benefits for healthy older adults, they also have a vital role to play in the lives of individuals with memory loss.
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Expressions: Prestige's memory-care program engages residents in life-affirming activities
The philosophy of caring at Prestige Care, Inc., is guided by four core values—respect, integrity, commitment and trust. “Our promise is to personally touch lives every day,” states Dina Newsom, product manager for Prestige’s Expressions Memory Care program. The person-centered Expressions initiative is one way that the company fulfills that promise.
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The Village's Vitality Program boosts health, happiness and sales
More than two years ago, Jim Antonucci looked out his office window to see an ambulance arrive at The Village, a community in Gainesville, Florida. The attendants were there to help a resident with a nonlife-threatening incident. Yet as the ambulance drove away with that person, Antonucci thought , “I may never see that resident again.” To streamline and simplify healthcare services, the Village team developed the Vitality Program, a proactive approach that provides health and wellness services all in one place.
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Seven steps to building a wellness team and programs for both residents and staff by Marilynn Larkin, MA
In 2004, the volunteer board of directors of Westminster Communities of Florida had an epiphany. “They realized that communities such as ours could no longer operate out of what some people call a ‘Medicare mindset,’ which basically says, ‘Come live with us and we’ll take care of you,’” explains Wellness Coordinator Lisa Bloder, RN, CCM, CWP. “Instead, we would provide an environment that says, ‘Come live with us and we’ll help you fulfill your dreams.’” This article offers a blueprint for building a wellness team that focuses simultaneously on older adults and staff, based on the experience and efforts of Westminster Communities.
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Gourd Fest bolsters meaning and purpose at Pathway's Alexian Village
Among Mother Nature’s more unusual creations is the gourd. Its fruit comes in all shapes, colors and sizes, some of which are decorative. At Alexian Village of Elk Grove, a Pathway Senior Living community in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, an annual harvest festival “reinforces and promotes the belief that seniors”—like the gourd—“have purpose, meaning and beauty,” says Karen Leimberer, MA, RN, CMC, Pathways’ corporate director of life enrichment.
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Spring into Action: a senior community associate and resident wellness partnership by Connie Miller
Active-aging professionals provide a wide range of programming to help older adults improve their health and wellness, but motivating people to take part and make healthy lifestyle changes can be challenging. Kisco Senior Living, based in Carlsbad, California, recently created a program that inspired residents to make and reach healthy living goals.
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