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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- Special events
Roundup of events from Active Aging Week
The month of September has many things to recommend it, and a highlight is Active Aging Week. A program of the International Council on Active Aging, this annual health promotion event supports local hosts who customize their offering to each location. The rules? Keep it fun, make it educational, and cover the cost yourself, as much as possible, so money is not a barrier.
Programmers in seniors centers, retirement communities, wellness centers, parks and recreation and other service providers are very creative in blending in special events with tried-and-true offerings. An ongoing challenge is to make the “needed” activities (think exercise and eating more vegetables) as desirable as the “wanted” activities (travel and deserts).
Special events
Expanding experiences during Active Aging Week by Kori Poplin
•With more than 70% of the residents participating in our Fitness for Life program, we have created a culture of active aging at Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury (RWC), a continuing care retirement community located in Irvington, Virginia. The daily routine for our 200-plus residents includes a variety of fitness classes and wellness activities to engage the mind, body and spirit. Our rural campus, with its mix of buildings linked with walking paths on the edge of a quiet lake, lends itself to active lifestyles.
Ironically, the idyllic location and everyday scheduling at RWC had presented a challenge for us when planning Active Aging Week in the past as our residents are focused on wellness and fitness each and every day. Consequently, during the first three years we hosted annual events to highlight the ICAA Active Aging Week we found residents and community members interested but not over-whelmingly enthusiastic about these special programs. For Active Aging Week 2011, however, we were determined to try a variety of new, different and rewarding opportunities to increase participation and stay true to the theme of expanding your experience.
Special events
Anchor Active Aging Week with a theme
There are many ingredients to producing a great health promotion event. One powerful ingredient is a theme. Why do major health promotion events, such as Active Aging Week, World Health Day and Older Americans Month, have a theme?
Themes become the valuable anchor for both the content of an event, and the promotion. You use the theme to get people excited, choose activities, inspire volunteers and colleagues and even help with decorations.
Special events
Are you ready for Active Aging Week?
Active Aging Week is all about providing older adults with opportunities to experience wellness and exercise in safe, friendly and fun environments. In 2011, this health promotion takes place September 25 through October 1—coincidentally both the United Nations’ International Day of Older Persons and the 10th Anniversary of the International Council on Active Aging® (ICAA), which spearheads the annual Active Aging Week event. This year’s theme, “Expand your experience,” encourages participants and host organizations to try something new.
moreSpecial events
WALK! with Aegis Therapies invites participants to adopt healthier, active lifestyles
To help individuals take up healthier, active lifestyles, Aegis established the WALK! with Aegis Therapies initiative. Held in conjunction with Active Aging Week, ICAA’s annual health promotion campaign, the Aegis initiative “serves not only as a highly worthwhile educational tool,” Schram observes, “but also as a terrific morale booster for residents and staff alike.”
moreSpecial events
Three savvy ways to promote Active Aging Week by Katherine Pierce-Ryan
In another month, your planning for Active Aging Week 2011 will be well underway. A quick check of the planning calendar indicates that July and August are the months to fire up the publicity machine for this event. How do you reach your target audience to get them excited?
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