International Council on Active Aging
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ICAA in the news
Catch up with the association that supports professionals in older-adult fitness and wellness
ICAA’s research reveals details about active-aging workforce
The results of the ICAA Salary & Benefits Survey are now in, and they paint a picture of an educated and experienced workforce, says Patricia Ryan, ICAA’s Vice President of Education. Conducted in fall 2008, this survey examined the compensation provided to active-aging wellness professionals—those “whose jobs wholly or partially revolve around wellness concepts,” Ryan explains. To be able to do such a survey, however, ICAA first had to define these jobs based on their functions to ensure fair comparisons. Ryan describes the survey process and key information revealed by this research in this issue of the Journal on Active Aging®. Turn to page 24 to read her article, “Industry directions: philosophy, roles and income for the wellness workforce.”
Forum releases Global Agenda Councils report
Following the inaugural Summit on the Global Agenda in Dubai in November, the World Economic Forum has released a report outlining The Global Agenda 2009. Colin Milner, ICAA’s CEO, serves on the Global Agenda Council on the Challenges of Gerontology, and this council’s observations and recommendations are included in the report. Based in Geneva, Switzerland, the Forum is an independent organization “committed to improving the state of the world by engaging leaders in partnerships to shape global, regional and industry agendas.” To view or download a copy of the report, log on to www.weforum.org/pdf/globalagenda.pdf.
EPA seeks entries for 2009 awards competition
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is now accepting applications for its third annual Building Healthy Communities for Active Aging Awards, an initiative that ICAA supports and promotes. These awards recognize outstanding community planning and strategies that support active aging. Details on criteria and how to apply, plus a downloadable PDF form, are available online at www.epa.gov/aging/bhc/awards. The deadline for applications is July 17, 2009.
‘Global industry news’ augments ICAA website
Active-aging professionals have access to relevant news 24/7 through a recent addition to the ICAA website. Designed to keep ICAA members and other visitors to the site informed about goings-on in the industry, the “Global industry news on active aging” section offers industry, research and product development news; ICAA news; and general active-aging news headlines from around the world. To check out this section, log on to www.icaa.cc, and click on “Global industry news” (under “Professional education”).
ICAA introduces ICAA Business Network
The International Council on Active Aging® (ICAA) has heard calls from ICAA members for more opportunities to connect with their peers. In response, the association is launching the ICAA Business Network-a website sure to become the online community for active-aging professionals. The ICAA Business Network, or ICAA Net, will function like social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace. By logging in to the ICAA Net through the ICAA website, association members will be able to customize their individual profiles, make contact with others who share their interests, create forums to discuss topics, upload videos, and more. As a result of its ability to help people connect, ICAA Net will help to foster a dynamic active-aging community that grows the industry together.
Online forum for sharing programs set to go live
As we go to press, ICAA is preparing to unveil the ICAA Online Directory of Successful Programs, an initiative that allows active-aging professionals to share their best program strategies. The Online Directory arose out of the 2006 ICAA Strategy Session, a think tank of active-aging leaders that identifies needs in the growing industry and recommends actions to address them. (To learn about the outcomes of this year’s Strategy Session, see the article on page 34.) A top priority emerged at the 2006 session to “identify best practices in the industry that serve as models, and tap into applicable practices from other organizations.” ICAA formed a work group to plan the format for the Online Directory, and this group seriously considered the ultimate goals of this resource. Now, as the Online Directory becomes available to the active-aging industry, it will be created by people in the field who want to tell their colleagues about programs that improved quality of life for older adults, and who want to find new programs to expand their own offerings.
Learning opportunities abound at annual ICAA Conference
The International Council on Active Aging® invited active-aging professionals to expand their wellness horizons at the Sixth Annual ICAA Conference in San Antonio, Texas—and expand them they did. The 2008 ICAA Conference in December featured plenty of opportunities for delegates to learn from presenters, and from each other.
Selected for their industry experience and knowledge, leading presenters engaged audiences with educational seminars on a wide range of topics—from facility design and marketing, to brain health and drumming circles. And preconference presenters included the following two active-aging authorities, both ICAA advisors, who provided hands-on instruction:
- Debra Rose, PhD, kinesiology professor and co-director of the Center for Successful Aging at California State University, Fullerton; and co-director of the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence, housed at the University of Southern California; and
- Mary E. Sanders, PhD, FACSM, associate professor in the School of Medicine at the University of Nevada, Reno; director of WaterFit/Golden Waves; and Journal on Active Aging® columnist.
ICAA advisor honored with research award
The American Heart Association (AHA) recently bestowed its Population Research Prize on ICAA advisor Steven N. Blair, PED, a professor in the departments of Exercise Science and Biostatistics and Epidemiology at the University of South Carolina’s Arnold School of Public Health. Blair received AHA’s Population Research Prize “for leading major population studies that established the benefits of aerobic exercise in achieving cardiorespiratory fitness, thereby reducing illness and death from cardiovascular disease.”
AHA lauded Blair’s research with the Aerobics Center Longitudinal Study because it was one of the first to show the importance of cardiorespiratory fitness to health among adult men and women. The study found that physically fit individuals have about a 50% lower risk of cardiovascular disease and death than their sedentary peers. Blair also conducted a study that found that lower fitness levels increase the risk of high blood pressure.
“Over the past 25 years, clinical trials and observational studies led by Dr. Blair have provided the world with solid scientific evidence of the efficacy of physical activity as a weapon against disease,” said Timothy J. Gardner, MD, AHA president. He added that Blair’s work was a major factor in AHA’s decision to recognize physical inactivity and low cardiorespiratory fitness as a major risk factor for cardiovascular diseases.
A prolific author of scientific papers and chapters, Blair was the senior scientific editor for the US Surgeon General’s Report on Physical Activity and Health. He has also written or edited several books. In addition, the renowned researcher is a past president of the American College of Sports Medicine, the National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity, and the American Academy of Kinesiology and Physical Education. Blair also served as director of epidemiology and clinical applications at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas from 1980 to 2002.
On the road: spreading the active-aging word
ICAA leaders speak about active aging at many events throughout the year. Here are a few upcoming events at which Colin Milner, ICAA’s founder and CEO, will present:
- March 15–19: Aging in America 2009, the annual joint conference of the American Society on Aging and the National Council on Aging (NCOA), Las Vegas, Nevada. On March 15, Milner will be the lead speaker at “A Vision for the Future of Senior Centers,” a special forum hosted by the National Institute of Senior Centers (NISC), an NCOA special-interest group. He will also talk at the NISC Leo Laks Memorial Luncheon Lecture and Luncheon on March 17. More information: www.agingconference.org
- April 23: “Healing Gardens: The Power and Practice of Nature in Senior Communities,” a daylong seminar at Medford Leas Continuing Care Retirement Community in Medford, New Jersey. This event is cosponsored by Medford Leas and Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. ICAA’s CEO will speak on creating an age-friendly wellness environment. More information: www.medfordleas.org
- April 22–25: The Society of Behavioral Medicine’s 30th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions in Montreal, Canada. On April 25, Milner will take part in “Consumers Be Aware,” a panel discussion on using mass media and marketing approaches to increase public awareness of and demand for evidence-based practices. More information: www.sbm.org
Active Aging Week hosts encourage adults 50 and older to get active
Numerous older-adult organizations, agencies and communities across North America hosted events for Active Aging Week 2008, which took place September 22–28. The annual health promotion event is organized by the International Council on Active Aging® (ICAA) to introduce older adults to a healthy, active lifestyle. A number of this year’s host sites enjoyed prepublicity in the media, observes Pat Ryan, ICAA’s Vice President of Education and Active Aging Week Program Manager. Health fairs, walks of all kinds, and Wii games were particularly popular, she notes, as were art, music and dance offerings. Watch for Ryan’s overview of Active Aging Week 2008 in the November/December issue of the Journal on Active Aging®. And mark your calendars for next year’s Active Aging Week, which will take place September 21–27, 2009.
ICAA Conference 2008 focuses on education, networking
The Sixth Annual ICAA Conference gets underway in early December at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio, Texas. Held in conjunction with the Athletic Business Conference and Expo, ICAA’s annual event offers educational seminars, workshops and networking opportunities for active-aging professionals.
Input from ICAA members shapes the conference’s educational program. This year’s seminar tracks include:
• Brain health
• Facility and community planning and development
• Increasing participation
• Management and leadership
• Marketing
• Outdoor programming
• Practice of programming
• Science of programming
• Wellness
The full conference program is available in the “Conference” section of the ICAA website, www.icaa.cc. Other event details are provided in the brochure on pages 77–84 of this Journal on Active Aging®.
Next year, the ICAA Conference will take place December 2–5 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida. A call for presenters will appear on the ICAA website in mid-January, with selections due March 1.
Online locator to include more options
ICAA’s online wellness facility locator will grow and diversify this fall. The locator will continue to pinpoint wellness facilities across North America based on search criteria, but will now also locate suppliers of products and services that support a wellness lifestyle for people over 50. Visit www.icaa.cc to view the expanded locator. Or call ICAA toll-free at 866-335-9777 for more information.
On the road: spreading the active-aging word
Colin Milner, ICAA’s founder and CEO, recently presented a preconference session with active-aging colleagues John Rude and Lisa Bloder at the American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging (AAHSA) Annual Meeting and Exposition in Philadelphia. Milner joined Rude, president of Age Dynamics Inc., and Bloder, wellness coordinator at Westminster Communities of Florida, to offer “A Practical Guide to Marketing and Selling Wellness.” ICAA’s Chief Operating Officer Julie Milner also attended the October meeting, where the association fielded an exhibit booth.
Later that week, Colin Milner gave the keynote address on “Changing Aging” at It Takes a Community: A Summit on Opportunities for Mental Health Promotion and Suicide Prevention in Senior Living Communities, held at the Asbury Methodist Village in Gaithersburg, Maryland. The conference was organized by the Center for Mental Health Services. This federal agency falls within the US Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
