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- Emotional wellness
Sexuality in older adults by Barbara Resnick, PhD, CRNP
Despite the fact that it is not often discussed and not something anyone wants to hear about, many older adults are interested in sex, and some lead active sex lives and enjoy sexual activity. Sexual activity is associated with health, and illness can have a major impact on both sexual activity and satisfaction. Also affecting sexual activity are the many physiological changes that occur in both men and women with age.
moreEmotional wellness
Meditation and mindfulness: designing wellness programs for the mind, body and spirit by Jim Concotelli, PhD, MSW
Medical research continually reminds us of the many health benefits of exercise and shows us that physical activity can preserve function and enhance independence. But few of us realize that the wellness activities people choose can produce a host of unexpected benefits.
As millions of mature adults take a positive and active approach to their personal health, the most successful are those who adopt a whole-person wellness model, addressing the needs of the body, mind and spirit. Two practices that offer such multidimensional wellness benefits are meditation and mindfulness. By choosing mindfulness and integrating meditation into their lives, older adults can discover even greater health and vitality, as well as deeper spiritual awareness.
Emotional wellness
Sharing the journey of forgiveness by Donald R. Koepke, MDiv, BCC
To work in older adult fitness and wellness involves engaging people within all aspects of life. When clients confront their physical selves, often other issues come pouring out. As an active aging professional, you encounter individuals who feel happy and fulfilled, angry and frustrated, hurt and damaged. The goal, as always, is to encourage their growth. To say, “Yes, you can,” when people face obstacles. To look for strengths, rather than weaknesses. But how can you be of value to clients when the issue at hand is forgiveness?
moreEmotional wellness
Add fun to exercise with a laughter club by Allison Clark and Catharine Sutherland
This program is successful because it is different, innovative, healthy, positive, uplifting and FUN! Who doesn’t want to do more laughing in their life? Our monthly Laughter Club sessions provide a warm, welcoming, nonjudgmental atmosphere where seniors and youngsters can gather to play and perform laughter exercises in a spirit of silliness and exploration.
moreEmotional wellness
Valuing the spirit in clients with dementia by Donald R. Koeple, Mdiv
When contemplating how fitness and wellness professionals might encourage mental and cognitive health in older adults, it is important to explore the effects of dementia on these efforts. For, on its surface, dementia seems to remove the very characteristics of the person being encouraged and developed.
Instead of being able to judge what is best for the self, people with dementia lose the capacity to consider consequences of actions, because they often have little regard for the past or future. Many of these individuals have difficulty remembering the way to the bathroom, much less remembering more complex tasks. They truly live in the moment.
Emotional wellness
How to support positive body image in older adults by Shari Feuz and Jenifer Milner
Research and case studies reveal that body dissatisfaction can persist across the life span or start during middle and later life (Feuz, 2005). This means that as a fitness or wellness professional who works with older adults, you should expect to encounter clients with negative body image, and would be wise to prepare.
Body image refers to “an individual’s psychological experience of the appearance and function of his/her body and is one aspect of an individual’s mental representation of him/herself” (Friedman et al., 2002). This complex phenomenon influences behavior and self-esteem. When someone has negative body image, it permeates all aspects of life, with extreme body dissatisfaction leading to behaviors that adversely affect physical and mental health.
