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- Safety
The physical activity health paradox: What it means for active-aging organizations by Marilynn Larkin, MA
When it comes to required occupational physical activity, less may be more. This Journal on Active Aging Contributing Editor and columnist explores the evidence suggesting that where and why people engage in physical activity matters, plus possible implications for the active-aging workforce, in the first article of her new "Hot Topic!" column.
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Disaster preparedness: Hurricane Ian exposes the need for new strategies by Judith Graham, Kaiser Health News
All kinds of natural disasters--hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, wildfires, dangerous heat waves--pose substantial risks to the older population. Yet, too few older adults prepare for these events in advance, and efforts to encourage them to do so have been largely unsuccessful. The most recent horrific example was Hurricane Ian. The recent storm's deadly impact on community-dwelling older adults reaffirms the difficulties many face in preparing for disasters. Disaster response experts call for fresh approaches and stronger community networks to address these challenges.
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Indoor air quality, part one: Why it matters and how to improve it by Regina Vaicekonyte, MS, WELL AP
Awareness has increased in recent years about the health impacts of indoor air quality. Recent survey results reveal consumer insights on the importance of indoor air quality across environments serving older adults. Read on to learn more, plus gain a trio of strategies for cleaner air.
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Disaster preparedness: Impact of the pandemic by Marilynn Larkin, MA
The COVID-19 pandemic blindsided the world in 2020 with a disaster of unparalleled proportions. No nation was prepared for the devastating illness and the losses of life and income. In North America, skilled nursing centers and long-term care residences such as nursing homes were particularly hard hit, prompting health officials to decide early on that COVID-19 mainly affected “old” people. But the World Health Organization (WHO) said in April what was already becoming known based on new infections rates among young people, namely that this statement is “factually wrong.” Even though age remains an important risk factor, the virus is affecting everyone. Certainly, the pandemic warrants special precautions in terms of disaster preparedness and management. Nonetheless, other disasters--earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes, for example--continue to occur and are happening at the same time. ... [O]rganizations need to be prepared for any additional disaster that may strike while still maintaining precautions against COVID-19, and for any pandemic “surges” in infection rates that may require additional protective strategies.
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Active-aging communities leverage rapid communications technologies to combat the pandemic
When the pandemic struck, active-aging organizations recognized that prompt, accurate communication to all stakeholders was key to ensuring compliance with directives from the government and health authorities, and managing expectations for all concerned. Two organizations in different locations and with different constituents responded by implementing different emergency-messaging technologies. Each had similar goals: to optimize community operations, ensure safety, and enable wellness programming and other activities to continue as much as possible, albeit in transformative ways. Marilynn Larkin, contributing editor to the Journal on Active Aging, recently talked with leaders at these organizations about how their use of communications technology is facilitating their response to pandemic requirements.
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'Bullying among older adults by Kathie C. Garbe, PhD, MCHES
"Bullying behavior doesn't just happen on the playground or the school cafeteria anymore," shares Robin P. Bonifas, PhD, MSW. "Older-adult bullies really do exist in all types of communities." An associate professor in the University of Arizona's School of Social Work and the vice-president of the Association of Gerontology Education in Social Work, Bonifas has been studying resident-to-resident aggression among older adults, specifically bullying behavior, for a number of years. She also wrote a book on the topic .... Bonifas sees bullying behavior as a consequence of some concerns people have about getting older as well as some issues characteristic of living in communal settings. In this interview for the Journal on Active Aging, she provides an overview of peer-to-peer bullying among older adults, the impact it has on individuals as well as the living environment, and the issues that must be addressed to increase awareness and prevent bullying behavior.
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