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- Social wellness
Blogs, social media and the Web: how to help your clients engage online by Marilynn Larkin, MA
Recent research confirms what many members of the International Council on Active Aging® (ICAA) are seeing in their organizations and communities—namely, dramatic increases in the use of social networking and online networking tools. According to the nonprofit Pew Research Center in Washington, DC, social networking use among American Internet users ages 50 and older nearly doubled—from 22% to 42%—between April 2009 and May 2010. At that point, half (47%) of users ages 50–64 and one in four (26%) users ages 65 and older used social networking sites.
moreSocial wellness
Summer camp program brings generations together by Colleen Musselman and Marjan deKok
From field trips to gooey s’mores to arts and crafts, summer camp brings back memories that beg to be shared. So, in 2008, we launched a Grands & Kids Camp at Garden Spot Village, our nonprofit continuing care retirement community in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. This weeklong summer program gives residents a chance to reminisce, share their stories and enjoy a wide range of activities with their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. It also offers teachable moments for all dimensions of a healthy lifestyle.
moreSocial wellness
Garden Street Grill: an elegant gourmet evening sets a community apart by Yannick Himber, BTH, and Teresa Beshwate, MPH
Imagine dining in the finest restaurant in town. After being seated by the maitre d’, you notice the votive candles glowing in the intimate space, jazz music playing in the background, mouth-watering aromas filling the air, and hum of friends conversing. Fresh floral arrangements adorn each table, accompanied by the finest china, an elegantly folded napkin and a stylish menu announcing a five-course meal and accompanying wine selections. Your tuxedo-clad server makes his way to your table to introduce himself and offer the featured cocktail of the evening. Your five-star meal has begun.
moreSocial wellness
Social networks promote engagement, reduce isolation, boost health by Marilynn Larkin, MA
Professionals who serve older adults know from personal experience that their members and residents feel better when they’re socially active. Now, emerging evidence shows conclusively that this is, in fact, the case. Recent studies suggest that loneliness contributes to a range of ills, from high blood pressure to pain, depression and dementia; by contrast, social interaction boosts health and quality of life.
moreSocial wellness
Using the Wii to foster social wellness by Andrew D. Lachman
Diane Savard, executive director of Aegis of Aptos, thinks she has found an activity that should keep the residents of this assisted-living community in Aptos, California, a bit more engaged and challenged—and best of all, connected to one another as well as to their relatives.
Aegis residents can no longer field grounders or serve and volley, but many are still competitive and long for the camaraderie that sports generates. Savard has set up Nintendo’s Wii Sports in the community’s activities room to give the residents a new and meaningful way to express themselves and relate to others.
Social wellness
Extending roadtime: Techniques to maintain driving wellness by Jennifer L. Womack, MS, OTR/L and Michaela Mangrum, OTS
Each year, more than one million Americans ages 70 and older stop driving and turn to other means to meet their transportation needs (Foley, 2002). Given that the United States is an automobile-dependent society, retirement from driving is often viewed negatively as a loss of independence rather than simply a transition to other forms of transportation. In our experience, older adults frequently report they dread the day when they are no longer able to drive due to the broader implications for their lives.
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