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- Environmental wellness
Data pinpoint noteworthy trends at the intersection of green, active aging
The Natural Marketing Institute (NMI; www.nmisolutions.com) is a marketing consulting and research firm that focuses on health, wellness and sustainability, including the Baby Boomer market and their attitudes and behaviors with respect to green products and services. NMI also developed the LOHAS [Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability] segmentation model, a way of looking at the adult green market that is being used globally (See the figure on page XX).
Broadly, with respect to Boomers, NMI has found that “consumption and possession are being replaced by sustainability and purpose, which are revealed in Boomers’ growing understanding of the fusion of personal and planetary health – that in fact, one cannot be healthy without the other.”1 How does that growing understanding translate into action, and what are the implications for the active-aging industry? ICAA’s Green Guide spoke with Steve French, NMI’s managing partner, to find out.
Environmental wellness
Gray, green, and active: Environmental volunteerism benefits older adults and society by Karl Pillemer, Ph.D.
Martin Phillips volunteers many hours each month in local environmental organizations, helping to organize trail clean-ups and testing water quality in streams. His goal is to help preserve the earth for future generations, even though he will not personally see the benefits. Maria Groves volunteers as a receptionist for a nature center, noting that she enjoys the children who participate in the programs and socializing with staff and other volunteers. Janice Phelps has always loved being outside in nature; her political work on environmental issues comes from a deep attachment to the natural world, which she feels is sacred and must be preserved. John Trent is politically conservative and will tell you right away: “I’m no tree-hugger!” But he has spent a lifetime hunting and fishing and is concerned about the destruction of natural areas that used to teem with wildlife, so he volunteers to protect them.
These individuals pursue different activities and have divergent motivations. But they have one thing in common: They are part of a growing movement of people in their 60s, 70s, 80s and beyond who have become environmental volunteers, working to create a sustainable society and to conserve our natural resources. Not only do these “gray and green” volunteers help solve one of the major challenges of our time, but research shows environmental volunteering also leads to improved health and well-being of older persons. Now researchers, policy makers, and non-profit organizations are seeking ways to encourage environmental volunteering and civic engagement (EVCE) among individuals after retirement.
Environmental wellness
How and why to get your green team together by Ken Kramer
Since our inception in 1975, Givens Estates has understood the importance of being good stewards of our environment. One might say it was simply an unwritten philosophy. We knew environmental stewardship was important but it had never been put into writing. In 2003, we rewrote our mission and philosophy statement to include wellness, and so it only made sense to include “environmental” as one of our seven dimensions.
If you have ever read a self-improvement book, I am sure it had a section that said to write down your goals, because if you don’t you will never achieve them. We were committed to environmental wellness and we knew it had to be a part of our written wellness philosophy statement. That way, it would always be before us.
Environmental wellness
Grand Lake Gardens' community garden feeds the hungry
For nearly 50 years, Grand Lake Gardens has offered residential living on an intimate scale in Oakland, California. The senior living community features 90 apartments serving nearly 100 older adults, providing services that include hospitality, recreation, dining, wellness, and in-house assistance. Residents can gain access to a full continuum of care, if they wish, or choose the flexibility of a rental plan.
moreEnvironmental wellness
Timber Ridge at Talus fosters a well environment and an environment for wellness
Timber Ridge at Talus prides itself on providing a lifestyle of flexibility and choice for older adults in the Pacific Northwest. Located outside Seattle in Issaquah, Washington, Timber Ridge is owned and operated by Life Care Services, LLC, an Iowa-based developer and manager of senior living communities. The company’s LifeCare™ concept is offered at Timber Ridge through apartment-homes in different sizes, styles and floor plans combined with supportive services for healthy, active living. Programs on campus focus on nutrition, fitness, active life, and well-being, while long-term healthcare allows individuals to age in place without significant fee increases. Other compelling factors about Timber Ridge include the community’s location, landscape and thoughtful design.
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Why older-adult playgrounds present a world of possibilities by Marilynn Larkin, MA
At first glance, the words older-adult playground may seem like an oxymoron. Aren’t playgrounds for children? Well, yes and no. Most existing playgrounds were built with children in mind. But a new wave of playgrounds—born of an understanding of the value of play and conceived with older adults, or older adults and children, in mind—are moving off the drawing boards and into communities in the United States1 and beyond.
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