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- Construction
Walking the talk: a commonsense approach to facility programming and design by Peggy Buchanan
Never in my wildest dreams did I think designing, equipping and programming a fitness and aquatic center for older adults would have so many theoretical challenges, yet such commonsense solutions. I realized early that plenty high-dollar consultants adhere to industry standards in developing guidelines and answers. Having tried my professional best to go by the book, I wondered how many of these people had actually walked their talk.
moreConstruction
Universal design 101: seven elements of ageless design by Jean Zagrodnik, AIA, LEED AP
Imagine a world where everything—from lighting and fixtures to hallways and entryways—is designed to meet the needs of all people, regardless of abilities and limitations. Such spaces exist, thanks to a rather simple forward-thinking concept called universal design (UD), which is fast becoming a trend in architectural design and commercial/residential development.
moreConstruction
Re-creating 'the backyard' in senior communities by John Paul Carman, FASLA
If asked to choose an outdoor environment in which you feel comfortable spending time, would you, like many people, say your backyard? Think back to when you were growing up. Did you play with friends in your backyard? Were there picnics and barbeques with friends and neighbors? Did you have a garden where you grew vegetables with your grandfather or raised roses with your grandmother? These are great memories that you might try to re-create whenever possible in the places you live.
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Planning and marketing a feasible wellness center by Cornelia C. Hodgson, AIA
Wellness centers in senior living communities are undergoing a fundamental change. Once primarily a place where residents could swim and take part in fitness classes, the wellness center has expanded significantly to include all dimensions of wellness—physical, social, emotional, spiritual, mental and vocational.
The services offered in total wellness centers have the power to markedly improve the quality of life for active aging adults. But before making the decision to add a wellness center to your community (or build a facility in another setting), it’s important to do the legwork. You need to find out not only if a center is financially feasible, but also what services and spaces it should provide to meet the specific desires of the people who will use the facility.
Construction
Installing a therapeutic pool: 3 factors to consider by Randy Mendioroz
The active aging industry has long recognized that lap pools, warm water pools and hydrotherapy spas make ideal exercise venues for low-impact water-related activities to help with fitness and weight loss programs, physical therapy and rehabilitation. Aquatic therapy also decreases joint stress, since the water’s buoyancy counteracts the effects of gravity, eliminating the pain and discomfort often associated with normal terra firma movement.
moreConstruction
Designing landscapes to enhance well-being
Reflecting Absence, New York’s World Trade Center Memorial, will feature pools of water, oak trees and vast open spaces for the sun to shine through. But given the millions invested in this project, are these esthetic touches truly the right ones? Will they resonate with visitors to the memorial? And what will they mean to those who live and work in lower Manhattan? Oladele Ogunseitan, PhD, MPH, a University of California–Irvine social ecologist, may have the tools to answer these questions.
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