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- Motivation
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.
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The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Midcourse Report: How active-aging professionals can help older adults move more by Malorie Polster, MPH, CHES; Bianca Macias, MPH, CPH; Alison Vaux-Bjer
The United States government has followed the latest edition of the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans with a midcourse report all about older adults. The report emphasizes that it is never too late to start or restart physical activity. Health and wellness professionals are uniquely positioned to help older adults incorporate more physical activity into their lives.
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Virtual reality: A fun way to motivate older adults to move by Marilynn Larkin, MA
Can virtual reality (VR) technology be used to motivate older adults to move? The answer seems to be a clear yes. Participants in a randomized, controlled pilot study in an independent living community were overwhelmingly enthusiastic about a VR intervention. Preliminary findings suggest an increase in time spent in physical activity.
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Spirituality drives performance by Adam Smith, MA, and Dustin Nabhan, DC, PhD
Whether it involves a race, a dance or a presentation, human performance benefits when people's lives include a sense of purpose and incorporate spiritual practices such as mindfulness.
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Living well, pandemic style: How a Dallas community adapts to a new norm by Deana Lisenby, BS
Most of us probably remember the exact moment we realized life would no longer look the same. At Presbyterian Village North (PVN), the announcement came on Friday, March 13, 2020. We had just competed in a 48-hour "March Madness" CyberCycle challenge, and our community was still celebrating placing third overall as well as having three residents in the top 20 riders worldwide. At that moment, it seemed as though 2020 was shaping up to be an exciting year for our wellness program. None of us anticipated the chaos waiting to boil over into our daily lives. Fast forward to 2021, we're still navigating our way through a global pandemic. A "new normal" has become precedent: face masks, social distancing, and persistent handwashing and sanitation. Guidelines and compliance regulations change daily. As turbulence continues to reign during the COVID crisis, traditional resident programming has taken an unprecedented hiatus. Instead of focusing on what cannot be done, however, our wellness and life enrichment teams have embraced thinking outside of the box. The result is an innovative twist on the traditional lifestyle residents know and love.
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'How to launch and live the best life-at any age by Jim Eastburn, BS
As we sat together and talked about changes Barbara wanted to make in her life, I noticed her eyes start to fill with tears. Our conversation was typical of so many I have experienced over the past 25 years with guests at the Canyon Ranch wellness resort in Tucson, Arizona. Barbara, soon to celebrate her 70th birthday, had been enjoying an active retirement .... Her goals for the week were typical: begin a regular exercise routine, lose a little weight, improve her sleep, cut back on alcohol, start meditating, and stop worrying so much about her grandkids. She had a few hurdles as well. Barbara had recent knee surgery, nagging back pain, and high blood pressure for which her doctor had just prescribed medication. So, what brought on the tears? After reviewing her goals and scheduling a personal-training session and nutrition consultation, Barbara turned to me and said, "Look, I know what I should be doing, but I'm just not doing it! What's wrong with me? Why can't I get my act together?" And, so began Barbara's journey of understanding what gets in the way of living her best life. This article invites readers to join Barbara's journey. We'll review insights and practices that better equip us to support our clients--and ourselves--in launching and living our best lives, at any age.
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