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- Walking
Nature walking and health: An update on benefits to mind, body and spirit of time in nature by Shirley Archer, JD, MA
Have you felt awe at nature's beauty after watching a glowing, multicolored sunset? Or invigorated while inhaling the scent of the ocean, as you hear waves crash, feel cool mist against your skin and dig bare toes into sand? Or serene from listening to a stream gurgle and leaves rustle in a summer breeze? These are all examples of nature's power to capture attention, transform mood and offer peaceful perspective on our place in nature's vast scheme. Today, compelling and growing scientific evidence offers proof that we reap health benefits from time spent in nature.
moreWalking
Maple Leaf Quest: How Kerby Centre used Active Aging Week to bookend a yearlong walking initiative
Every year local hosts develop customized schedules of Active Aging Week activities that show remarkable creativity and produce positive life experiences. One hope expressed for the annual celebration of aging and living well is that older adults will try something that engages them meaningfully and encourages them ultimately to adopt a wellness practice or lifestyle. For hosts, the challenge can lie in translating interest in demonstrations and free activities into ongoing participation. One agency in Calgary, Canada, found an answer to this challenge in a wellness initiative bookended by consecutive Active Aging Weeks.
moreWalking
Activity trackers: What's all the fuss about these small yet significant devices? by Carol Kennedy-Armbruster, PhD
Millions of people of all ages are reaching for activity trackers (ATs) to help them increase their activity levels. These trackers, examples of wearable technology, are offered in a variety of forms and styles by companies such as Fitbit and Garmin, but all are designed to encourage wearers to move more and sit less. Recent research indicates that ATs may help users increase their physical activity levels through a combination of information, physical cues and behavioral techniques such as goal-setting, social support and motivational rewards.
moreWalking
Walking Bingo: A Peoples Health program motivates older adults to move
Creative ideas and approaches contribute to the success of Peoples Health as it strives “to provide high quality, cost-effective healthcare services” to its health plan members. "We also place a lot of emphasis on healthy, united communities," comments Director of Community Relations Leslie Louviere Keen. Walking Bingo is among the free programs the company offers to older adults who live in the community. Launched in March 2014, the program blends the classic game with physical activity to foster active play, motivating sedentary older adults to exercise.
moreWalking
More than merchandise: Why mall walking programs are a good deal by Caitlin R. Anderson, BA, and Basia Belza, PhD, RN, FAAN
Mall walking is not the newest fitness craze, but it is an excellent mode of physical activity, especially for midlife and older adults. The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released a new resource entitled "Mall Walking: A Program Resource Guide," which delves into this decades-old practice. To create the evidence-informed manual, the CDC worked with researchers from across the nation to compile existing mall-walking research, perform environmental audits of malls, and interview mall-walking participants and program leaders. The result is a practical resource that promotes the development of mall walking programs and provides strategies to design, implement and evaluate them.
moreWalking
"Step It Up!" The Surgeon General embraces walking and walkability
Active-aging professionals look for opportunities to help the people they serve improve their health. So, too, does the United States Surgeon General. One tool at his disposal is the Call to Action, “a science-based document to stimulate action nationwide to solve a major public health problem.” Issued on September 9, 2015, the Surgeon General’s new call to action aims to address the public health challenges of chronic disease. The solution—and the focus of the document—is walking.
more
