ICAA Champions launch across the USA, vow “Aging will never be the same!”

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Fitness expert Kathy Smith, an ICAA master champion and spokesperson, featured in two kick-off events

VANCOUVER--The International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) officially launches its ICAA Champions program during Active Aging Week, an annual event observed throughout North America during the last week in September. Fitness expert Kathy Smith, an ICAA master champion and national spokesperson for the program, will be featured in kick-off events in Rancho Santa Margarita, California (September 26) and Carmel, Indiana (September 28).

“Let’s get over the idea that older adults are broken versions of younger adults,” asserts ICAA CEO Colin Milner. “The ICAA Champions program--a key component of ICAA’s Changing the Way We Age® Campaign (www.changingthewayweage.com)—is helping to overturn such stereotypes and shift society’s perceptions of aging by demonstrating the myriad ways older adults are leading active, productive lives.”

“I’m proud to serve as a master champion and represent a campaign that is rapidly gaining a groundswell of support from around the country,” adds Smith. “It’s heartening to lead exercise events with adults in their 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond, and to feel their terrific energy and enthusiasm.” Smith, who turns 60 this year, recently released a workout series called Ageless with Kathy Smith that is specifically targeted to older adults, and a line of light hand equipment for rehab and prevention called Rejuvenation.

The ICAA Champions program has been embraced by other organizations, as well. Atria Senior Living, with communities in more than 25 states, has already enrolled more than 150 ICAA Champions, and plans to enlist more during its Active Aging Week events. Those events will include workshops with ICAA master champion David Dworkin, founder of Conductorcise® - A SOUND Workout for Body and Soul.

ICAA is accepting nominations for the ICAA Champion program on an ongoing basis at www.changingthewayweage.com. As part of the program, ICAA provides its organizational and individual champions with a dedicated web page and an array of downloadable tools to help them launch ICAA champion events anywhere in the world. The website also features a locator to help people find ICAA champions in their area.

About the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA)
The International Council on Active Aging® is the professional association that leads, connects and defines the active-aging industry. ICAA supports professionals who develop wellness facilities, programs and services for adults over 50. The association is focused on active aging—an approach to aging that helps older adults live as fully as possible within all dimensions of wellness (i.e., physical, social, environmental, vocational, intellectual, emotional and spiritual)—and provides its members with education, information, resources and tools.

As an active-aging educator and advocate, ICAA has advised numerous organizations and governmental bodies, including the US Administration on Aging, the National Institute on Aging (one of the US National Institutes of Health), the US Department of Health and Human Services, Canada’s Special Senate Committee on Aging, European Commission, and the British Columbia ministries of Health, and Healthy Living and Sport.

ICAA launched the Changing the Way We Age® Campaign (www.changingthewayweage.com), as part of the organization’s efforts to change perceptions of aging and overturn ageist stereotypes.

For interviews please contact:

Contact: Colin Milner, CEO, ICAA
Toll-free: 1-866-335-9777 (North America)
Telephone: 604-734-4466; cell: 604-763-4595
colinmilner@icaa.cc

Contact: Marilynn Larkin
Communications Director, ICAA
212-315-3301
mlarkin@icaa.cc