Scientific research
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Access and utilize the ICAA library of scientific studies, reports and statistics to assist you with the development of your business case for wellness, program and community design and development, evidence-informed lifestyle choices and marketing strategies and approaches.
Topic- Social wellness
Peer mentoring reduces loneliness, depression in long-term care
Peer mentoring - the provision of ongoing emotional support or empathy, as well as guidance or advice between peers - has been shown to be effective among older adults in the community. The first study to examine its impact in a long-term care setting found that after six months, the 43 mentee participants showed a 30% reduction in depression, a 12% reduction in loneliness, and a 60% increase in the number of monthly programs attended. It's something organizations may want to consider implementing.
moreSocial wellness
Tech Talk: Digital health tech products unveiled at CES 2020
MobiHealthNews, one of my favorite sources for tech events and innovations, offered a peek at health tech devices and software featured at CES 2020 (January 7-10 in Las Vegas). A number of the featured products are relevant to active-aging communities and centers, and some may even appear in ICAA's Journal on Active Aging's upcoming technology issue.
moreSocial wellness
Stats: 44% of 50+ adults play video games
Who'd have thought? Recent AARP research shows that 50 million 50+ adults (44%) are monthly gamers, up from 40 million (38%) in 2016. Close to half (49%) of women play video games compared with 40% of men. However, the percentage of people who play every day has increased for both men and women. Further, compared to 2016, fewer older gamers look to children or grandchildren to learn about new games. Instead, they are learning about games online and offline from a variety of channels, including their social networks, ads, websites and apps. Over one-third of these players continually try new games, and increasingly use their phone and other mobile devices to play.
moreSocial wellness
Caring for a grandchild linked to less loneliness, isolation
Caring for a grandchild may be linked to a lower risk of loneliness and social isolation, a recent study suggests. That's because grandparents who assume this role have larger social networks that include people who are important to them compared to those who don't take on this role. Interestingly, most of the research on grandparenting has focused on those who act as surrogates and parent their grandchildren, rather than those who simply help out their own children ("active grandparenting"). So, this is something to keep in mind and perhaps suggest to constituents in seniors centers and intergenerational settings.
moreSocial wellness
Arts engagement linked to longer life
Regular visits to museums, art galleries, the theatre, concerts and exhibitions are linked to a longer life, according to an analysis of data from more than 6,000 adults ages 50+ in England. The findings stress the importance of not only offering arts programming, but also of providing opportunities to actually visit cultural institutions and watch live performances (arts activities).
moreSocial wellness
Quality, not quantity, of friendships linked to wellbeing
Are people with numerous connections to friends, families and acquaintances through online social networks any happier than those who have smaller circles of face-to-face relationships? The answer is likely no, researchers say. It's the quality, not quantity, of social relationships that boost wellbeing, according to their study, which compared wellbeing among people under age 45 with larger social networks and those over age 60, whose networks tended to be smaller.
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