New website and resources aim to spur “millions more” older adults to participate in Active Aging Week®

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[Vancouver, BC. April 1, 2015] It hit the ground running in 2003 as a rallying cry to older adults to stand up and get moving. Since then, Active Aging Week® has brightened the lives of millions of older adults, and for many of them, is becoming an important annual tradition.
Now the organization that started Active Aging Week, the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA), is pleased to announce the launch of its new website for this growing annual event.

| The ICAA is encouraging individuals and organizations to get involved in the 2015 event, which runs from September 27 to October 3. The new website provides visitors with everything they need to know about organizing an event, and offers a variety of free, ready-made materials, from logos to T-shirt designs, Power Point presentations and Certificates of Recognition to make their efforts as turnkey as possible.

Noteworthy among the record 3,000-plus organizations that hosted events during last year’s Active Aging Week throughout the United States, Canada and Australia was the 2014 WALK! with Aegis Therapies, which achieved the largest participation in its six-year history with more than 61,000 participants at over 760 locations, who walked a combined total of 94,000 miles (151,000 km). In the community of Westminster Village, Indiana, a group of 481 set a Guinness world record for the greatest number of people in history participating in a chair-based exercise class.

“Active Aging Week is an important part of our ongoing mission to change the way society perceives aging,” said Colin Milner, CEO and founder of ICAA. “It has already positively affected the lives of millions of people. We think our new website and its resources will help Active Aging Week touch the lives of millions more.”

Past AAW events have embraced all dimensions of wellness – emotional, vocational, physical, spiritual, intellectual, social and environmental. Examples range from tai chi to brain games, group walks, health fairs, dances, fitness classes, concerts and museum trips.
Host organizations’ events should be free or low cost, educational, and presented in a safe, fun and friendly atmosphere.

The overall theme of 2015 Active Aging Week is Live Your Adventure. Seven AAW Theme Days address more specific aspects of health and aging – including foot health, the benefits of aquatic exercise and walking.

ICAA urges any organizations or individuals interested in participating in Active Aging Week 2015 to visit the new Active Aging Week website (www.activeagingweek.com) for guidance on organizing and registering events.

About Active Aging Week
Active Aging Week was started in 2003 by the International Council on Active Aging as an international event celebrating aging and active living by engaging older adults in wellness activities in a safe, friendly and fun atmosphere. It is held every year in the last week of September.

About the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA)
ICAA, a professional association that leads, connects and defines the active-aging industry, supports professionals who develop wellness facilities, programs and services for adults over 50. The association is focused on active aging – an approach to aging that helps older adults live life as fully as possible within all dimensions of wellness – and provides its members with education, information, resources and tools. As an active-aging educator and advocate, ICAA has advised numerous organizations and governmental bodies, including the US Administration on Aging, the National Institute on Aging (one of the US National Institutes of Health), the US Department of Health and Human Services, Canada’s Special Senate Committee on Aging, and the British Columbia ministries of Health and Healthy Living and Sport.

For questions:

Contact: Colin Milner, CEO, ICAA
Toll-free: 1-866-335-9777 (North America)
Telephone: 604-734-4466; cell: 604-763-4595
colinmilner@icaa.cc