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- Health promotion
Exergamers Wellness Clubs: boosting physical activity, socialization and quality of life for older adults by Marilynn Larkin, MA
Recognition of the benefits of play for older adults continues to grow, as does momentum for ways to facilitate it. In the May/June 2012 issue of the Journal on Active Aging®, we explored the emerging trend of older-adult playgrounds. In this article, we delve into a pilot program aimed at improving the health and well-being of older people in Los Angeles, California, through “exergames”—video games that involve sports and exercise—and other components.
moreHealth promotion
Active living with low vision by Pris Rogers, PhD and Julia Brock, MA
“Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” is a well-known phrase from the United States Declaration of Independence. Yet we often fail to consider the implications of the phrase when people need additional assistance or residential modifications to continue an enjoyable and satisfying lifestyle. Staying active and involved is important to everyone— including older adults with low vision who, like everyone else, need to maintain physical and mental health.
People who lose vision later in life often believe that their lives are essentially over and that they will never again have control. Vision loss affects every aspect of an older adult’s life and puts caregivers and family members at a loss as to how to help. Our purpose is to give you suggestions for making changes and adjustments that should help clients regain confidence and enhance their everyday living, leisure time and safety.
Health promotion
Sedentary behavior: the new physical activity frontier? by Paul Gardiner, PhD
It’s a given that participation in moderate-to vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) can minimize some of the physiologic changes associated with aging, and alter the progression and development of chronic disease and disabling conditions. Current guidelines for older adults recommend 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity or 75 minutes of vigorous physical activity each week. But is that enough for good health?
Recent evidence underlines the importance of also focusing on sedentary behaviors—the high amount of time that people spend sitting during their “non-exercising” waking hours (1, 2).
Health promotion
Expanding the experience of Active Aging Week
The philosophy behind active aging is that every person can live fully, regardless of age, and be involved in life. For some older adults, that is a new concept. For others, the concept is attractive, but they are not sure how to go about it. That’s where Active Aging Week® comes in.
Active Aging Week is the annual health promotion observance of the International Council on Active Aging® (ICAA), held each year during the last week of September. What is unique about the week is that individuals and organizations decide how many events to offer and what type of activities will be available.
Health promotion
Active Aging Week 2010
It all began in 2003 with an idea: If people had a chance to try out or learn about wellness activities, maybe they would discover an approach that suited their lifestyles and interests. Active Aging Week was launched.
Today, in 2010, Active Aging Week is a special occasion that many hosts and older adults look forward to. Hosts say they gain new participants and reinspire their regulars. Participants discover that many activities contribute to their enjoyment and participation in life. And, since they often help plan and run the week’s events, they become ambassadors to their friends and neighbors.
Health promotion
Active Aging Week 2010: kicking off the planning stage
Older adults living life as fully as possible within the dimensions of wellness—that is the concept of aging promoted by Active Aging Week, the annual health promotion event spearheaded by the International Council on Active Aging® (ICAA).
Because wellness is a multidimensional model—one that encompasses physical, spiritual, vocational, intellectual, social, emotional and environmental wellness—a myriad of activities can enhance health and well-being. The key is to find the right activities for an individual. By offering everything from health fairs to lectures, brain games to concerts, dances to walks, and painting to canoeing, professionals in the ICAA community help older adults discover how to “be active your way”—the theme of Active Aging Week 2010.
