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- Community design
Building a business case for equipping your center by Colin Milner
To build or not to build. That used to be the question. At least when it came to developing fitness and wellness centers for older adults. However, the International Council on Active Aging’s research shows that is no longer the case, as—after eight years of renovations, expansions and new developments—82% of the respondents to an ICAA survey now have at least a fitness room at their retirement community, senior center, corporation, hotel, hospital or other setting. This growth in fitness centers and the shift in focus have not been lost on companies that supply fitness products and accessories; indeed, the active-aging industry continues to attract a growing number of new product providers. But do they have the right product for your market?
moreCommunity design
The future of active-aging adult centers by Craig Bouck
As the youngest Baby Boomers turn 50 next year, the population group that has driven culture and commerce in the United States for the past six decades is redefining what it means to grow old. To appeal to this influential group, “senior centers” are now referred to as “active-aging centers” or “Boomer centers.” However, focusing only on the change in name might cause us to miss what really makes these centers unique from others in the community. Are these simply age-restricted community recreation centers, or is there an opportunity for a truly new paradigm in recreation facilities? As we look at the issues and concerns surrounding this issue, one fact definitely must be addressed: In order to remain relevant to the Boomer generation, active-aging center designs must adapt and change.
moreCommunity design
So you want a wellness center. But is it feasible? by Margaret A. Wylde, PhD
Just about every community touts its wellness center, regardless of the size, features, services, amount of programming or use. Now your community is considering adding one. The first question to ask is, “Why do you want a wellness center?” Are your residents clamoring for it? Do you believe a new center is essential to compete in the future? Do you feel a bit hammered by the competition because they have a nice, new wellness center and you don’t? ... It’s essential for a community to determine if a wellness center would be a benefit for its residents and its marketing efforts and what type of center potential users want. A comprehensive feasibility study can help a community make the right decisions.
moreCommunity design
Capitalizing on wellness market trends by Gene Guszkowski, AIA
The economic downturn has hit the construction and development industry hard, and new construction projects in the senior living industry have suffered accordingly. However, with each passing day of this slow recovery, some people become frailer and more forgetful, while others begin to proactively search for ways they can maintain an active lifestyle even while preparing for the uncertainty of the future. In short, recession or no recession, the demand increases for quality environments for older adults. As senior living communities strive to provide enhanced products and services, create exceptional experiences, and transcend market expectations, community leaders are acknowledging that the time to begin making capital improvements is now.
moreCommunity design
Why retirement communities invest in new wellness centers by Marion Webb
It’s no accident that retirement communities are pouring hundreds of thousands—even millions—of dollars into constructing or upgrading their wellness facilities to incorporate the latest equipment, therapy pools, outdoor and indoor classes and meditation gardens. That’s because many communities have come to believe that well-designed fitness centers will not only help improve the lives of current residents but also draw in new residents.
moreCommunity design
Nature deficit: what it means for older adults, and how to address it among your constituents by Nancy Ceridwyn, MS, MEd
Richard Louv’s seminal work, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder, sparked a movement that seeks to reconnect children to the natural world, with the goal of healing emerging mental and spiritual health effects and promoting physical activity.1 In this and subsequent work, Louv takes a close look at the cultural outcomes of a generation of children growing up indoors and in smaller spaces.
But what about the effects on older adults?
While nature deficit is not a medical diagnosis, Louv sees the term as a way to think about a problem for the entire population. Although the term is not found in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders published by the American Psychiatric Association, research over the past two decades on nature confirms negative effects from the loss of—and positive outcomes from engagement in—green spaces.
