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- Leadership
Sages of Aging: A perspective by Jim Firman, EdD, MBA
Leaders in the fields of aging and longevity have striven for decades to transform the aging experience through research, policy and practice. Ken Dychtwald, PhD, founder and CEO of the consultancy Age Wave, is a prolific writer, speaker and thought leader on the grand opportunities and challenges of an aging society. Elyse Pellman, Age Wave president, has collaborated with him on many publications. Their most recent book, Sages of Aging, offers life and leadership guidance for future leaders.
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Encouraging leadership by Jenifer Milner (with Sages of Aging: A perspective by Jim Firman, EdD, MBA)
Who will emerge as future leaders in aging and longevity, continuing the essential work of challenging and changing the way we age? A new resource supports individuals in becoming changemakers in aging and longevity.
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Strategies to recognize and change ageist beliefs by Judith Graham, Kaiser Health News
Views of aging are often unconsciously ageist. A leading psychologist and thought leader on successful aging shares ways to become more aware of unintended ageism and to rethink and shift these beliefs.
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Death by design by Colin Milner
Life is finite. For many of us, this fact goes unrecognized until later in life. But, for Dr. Stephanie Ludwig, PhD, MA, MDiv, this was not so. At a young age Ludwig experienced the death of a sibling. This catastrophic event caused her to ask questions that many people wait until later life to explore--questions such as: Why do these things happen? Why do we live? And why do we die? In search of answers to these and other questions, Ludwig found herself on a journey of self-reflection. At 19 she declared a theology major in college, hoping to find absolute answers to her questions. She did not. Yet, this did not deter her as she sought to come to terms with her own mortality--something she says many don't do until faced with a loss. Ludwig is still exploring life, and ultimately its end, all these years later, including most recently as the former Director of Spiritual Wellness for Canyon Ranch, a global leader in the wellness movement. ... It is due to Ludwig's unique journey and training that I interviewed her for the second season of my podcast, Colin Milner Rethinks Aging With ... . I reached out to her to learn how we -- as individuals and as active-aging professionals - can ensure, as best possible, that we and our residents and members, family members and friends not only live well, but die well, too. As someone who has spent decades focused on quality of life for adults ages 50+, I found the discussion profoundly meaningful. And as International Council on Active Aging CEO, I wanted to share that conversation with you. Let's dive in!
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Family estrangements in later life: Understand impacts and support well-being by Karl Pillemer, PhD
Professionals who work with older people often need to understand available sources of family support. They may try to identify a "responsible relative" in the event that assistance is required. In developing a rehabilitation plan after a hospitalization, specialists wish to ascertain who might help an individual get to appointments or follow a therapeutic routine. When they learn a client has, say, two daughters who live nearby, they may feel reassured the person's support needs will be met. But in discussing these issues with the client, they sometimes encounter a strange reticence. The client may not wish to discuss her children in detail and appears uncomfortable when asked in depth about them. Or he may say something like, "Oh, we don't talk to them very much," or "Well, we've had a few problems there." The conversation stops, leaving the impression those offspring will nevertheless be available if needed. A hidden and often devasting situation can invalidate this assumption, however: The older person may be estranged from children or other relatives.
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Senior Theatre adapts to the pandemic: COVID-19 teaches older actors new tricks by Bonnie L. Vorenberg, BA, MS
We never thought we'd turn to online meeting software to do theatre! Perform, but not in person? No way. Then, COVID-19 changed everything. It made us pivot to new techniques and make adaptations so we could do what we've always done: use theatre to connect, inform and entertain. The most surprising discovery was that senior theatre online produces the same benefits as senior theatre in person. Theatre touches every part of us as humans, stimulating our physical, mental, psychological, cultural and emotional selves. But the social outcome of performing is the strongest. .... Against a backdrop of social restrictions and loneliness, drama groups help actors and audiences connect and performers do what they do best - entertain! It's a piece of reality that feels oh-so-good right now. Below, we share with you our story, complete with the challenging learning curve. ... Use our experiences to help you get online quickly and easily.
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