Is Strength Training or Power Training More Effective Against Frailty?

December 30, 2011

Frailty is a common risk associated with aging and is predictive of many poor outcomes. Much research exists that demonstrates the utility of physical exercise to prevent frailty, but it is unclear which forms of exercise are most effective for older adults at risk for frailty. A forthcoming article presents a study that compared the [...]

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Dietary Resilience: Eat Well to Age Well

December 29, 2011

Adequate nutrition is crucial for healthy aging. Older adulthood often brings many social and health changes that can make it difficult to sustain a healthy diet. A recent article identified strategies used by community-dwelling older adults who demonstrate dietary resilience—maintaining healthy nutrition in the face of dietary challenges.
There are many changes associated with aging that [...]

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Older Adults with Disabilities Can Age Well in Place

December 28, 2011

Around 40 percent of community-dwelling older adults in the United States have some form of disability that interferes with their capacity to function within their surroundings. Disabilities, by their very definition, make aging in place difficult to achieve, and are disproportionately more likely to affect lower-income individuals. For this reason, researchers affiliated with Johns Hopkins [...]

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Can Physical Activity Halt Decline in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)?

December 27, 2011

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a diagnosis of cognitive decline that is greater than would be expected based on age and education, but which does not interfere significantly with daily functioning. A diagnosis of MCI indicates an increased risk for dementia, but dementia is not inevitable. In fact, some individuals with a diagnosis of MCI [...]

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What Can Accelerometer Research Show about Active Aging?

December 27, 2011

Physical activity is an important aspect of healthy aging. It encourages overall well-being and mental health, and helps reduce the risk of falls and of functional impairment. Research on physical activity has made important contributions to our understanding of aging, and continued research will be crucial for informing individuals and developing programs to encourage physical [...]

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Gerotechnology: Shifts in the Study of Aging & Technology

December 23, 2011

A recent review of several articles outlines the emergence of the field of gerotechnology—an interdisciplinary field that examines the relationships between older adults and new technology. The reviewer identified 287 research papers on older adults and technology, and closely analyzed 18 papers on assistive technologies (AT) as well as information and computer technologies (ICT) representative [...]

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Measuring Physical Resilience

December 23, 2011

Resilience is the ability to adaptively respond to challenges and adverse events. There are many types of resilience—emotional resilience, for example, is one form of resilience important for managing stress—and many measures of resilience used by researchers to understand how individuals can actively respond to adversity. A form of resilience that is particularly relevant to [...]

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Significant Findings from First-Ever National Survey of CCRC Residents’ Families

December 15, 2011

In 2011, Mather LifeWays Institute on Aging, Ziegler, and Brecht Associates, Inc. partnered to conduct the first-ever national survey of family members of residents living in Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs). The purpose of this research is to assist senior living providers in the planning of their futures, as many are wondering what the next [...]

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Preparing for the Future: Technology & Long-Term Care Services

December 15, 2011

The LeadingAge Center for Aging Services Technologies (CAST) recently released a new report featuring 19 aging service organizations that are pioneering new programs, products, and business models involving new technologies that meet the needs of the growing older population.
The 19 organizations featured in this case study col­lection offer a full range of long-term services and [...]

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Strategies for Dealing with Limited Health Literacy

November 29, 2011

Health literacy is an important aspect of healthy aging and is associated with a vast array of health outcomes. Limited health literacy is likely a significant contributor to health disparities in the United States, and is particularly significant in older adulthood. Geriatric and health professionals can enhance the well-being of their clients (older adults) by [...]

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