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- Emotional wellness
Beyond fear: Enhancing mobility and autonomy by Mike Studer, PT, DPT, MHS, NCS, FAPTA
Learn how tailored strategies and supportive guidance can transform fear into confidence, enabling clients to embrace their daily activities with newfound courage.
moreEmotional wellness
Healthy aging: Our brains and our identity by Kelly Tremblay, PhD
Can we change who we are as we grow older? The fluidity of identity, influenced by a confluence of factors ranging from genetics to cultural backgrounds, sets the stage for a journey of self-discovery and transformation that spans a lifetime. ... Research has also shown it is possible to improve many aspects of our life if we shift away from the negative stereotypes of aging and instead create more positive views of aging.
moreEmotional wellness
Portraying wellness: An invitation to participate in a virtual exhibit by Lisa Kiely, BFA, CPT, CAD, CEHA
There's an African saying, "If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together." In Atlanta, Georgia, active living fans are excited about a new project connecting people of all ages and stages of life. Now, in time for Active Aging Week 2019, we invite International Council on Active Aging members and others hosting this campaign to join us in a virtual portrait project. ... Our new nationwide project, "Wellness In One Word," challenges everyone to define wellness in the moment by connecting it to self-portrait photography. We are inviting people to take portraits and "selfies" while answering the question, "What's on your mind right now--in one word?" and to submit their photos for virtual display. Trying to capture individual ideas about wellness in one word and one picture is a fun way to bring us together and see what gives us well-being.
moreEmotional wellness
'Happiness and health, part two: What you can do to boost happiness by Shirley Archer, JD, MA
I'm a happy person. An ex-boyfriend once told me, "You're happy because you don't have any problems." I told him, "You're unhappy because you don't know what a real problem is." That relationship didn't work out. But our conversation illustrates typical perceptions. Many people think happiness is something that comes to them, rather than something to create for themselves. Science now reveals that your efforts, including your mindset, exert a significant influence over your happiness. Researchers have broken down three distinct paths to happiness: positive emotions and pleasure, engagement, and meaning. Practices that boost happiness, therefore, increase experiencing and savoring pleasures, losing the self in engaging activities and participating in meaningful activities.
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BikeAround: Making memories accessible and world travel feasible for all by Marilynn Larkin, MA
Shortly after George Fermanis started The Fermanis Group, a Canadian consultancy that advises and invests in companies aiming to improve the lives of older adults, a colleague sent him a video about BikeAround. "I was convinced this technology could have practical applications in older-adult communities throughout Canada," Fermanis says. BikeAround consists of a large dome and a cycling unit with sensors embedded in the pedals. It integrates Google Street View, a technology that provides panoramic views of many natural wonders and landmarks, as well as specific streets worldwide. The user sits in the cycling unit and pedals and steers. That same speed and motion are displayed in the dome, offering a user-controlled immersive experience in the environment of choice. The streets and views displayed also can be controlled via computer by another individual-a staff member in a community, for example-to facilitate use by people with mobility impairments.
moreEmotional wellness
Happiness and health, part one: How positive emotions affect physical well-being by Shirley Archer, JD, MA
How happy are you? The answer to this question may predict how healthy you are or how long you'll live. "Happiness science" offers strong and growing evidence, particularly over the past decade, that positive emotions impact mental and physical health, resulting not only in a better quality of life, but also a longer and healthier life. ... Today, compelled by research findings, leading health professionals look at ways to integrate efforts to promote positive well-being into healthcare and public health policy. So, how might this benefit you as an individual and as a professional who works in an active-aging setting? Here's a look at what the latest research tells us about the significant relationship between happiness and health.
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