The arts offer a cost effective and appealing approach to healthy aging. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the development and implementation of three creative aging pilot programs led by professional teaching artists in multipurpose senior centers. The process of recruitment focused on professional teaching artists, senior center…

The Intergenerational Leadership Institute (ILI) is a yearlong certificate training program developed by Pennsylvania State University for older adults (55-plus) seeking new lifelong learning and civic engagement experiences and opportunities to contribute to innovation and change in their communities. Data from participant surveys and…

There continues to be lack of public awareness about elder abuse. To help address this issue, we developed and piloted an elder abuse peer educator training program from an educational gerontology and health empowerment perspective. We describe the process employed to train older adults as peer educators. We present evaluation results from data…

Background: Jog Your Mind is a community-based program aiming to enable seniors to maintain their cognitive abilities. It includes stimulating activities, information on aging, mnemonic strategies, and promotion of a healthy lifestyle and is offered over 10 weekly sessions to seniors with no known cognitive impairment. Purpose: This article…

To help older adults (N=212) initiate and adhere to a regular exercise program, a seven step approach was developed and implemented in a continuing care retirement community. Results indicate that older adults can exercise safely and that regular exercise will improve physical fitness, prevent injury and disease and improve quality of life.…

The American Association of Community Colleges' (AACC) Plus 50 Initiative (2008-2011), funded by The Atlantic Philanthropies, was created to build the capacity of community colleges nationwide to develop programming that engages the plus 50 learner. The Initiative supported a pilot group of 13 two-year institutions to develop or expand college…

A research project was conducted to describe the curricula and teaching methods of senior peer counselor training projects in the United States. Senior peer counselor training projects were identified through contacts with state and territorial agencies on aging and with professionals in aging and mental health centers. Project directors were…

Examines tasks for aging policies, programs, and practitioners: (1) meeting needs of elders from diverse groups; (2) managing a diverse elder care work force; and (3) supporting economic achievements of younger people while promoting their sense of solidarity with elders. Discusses the challenges for policy and program development and…

The Experience Corps for Independent Living is a volunteer service program designed to expand the independent living services available to frail elders and their families. Five first-year projects were able to serve a critical mass and promote community linkages. Three had active leadership development programs. (JOW)

Designed for community groups and organizations, groups of older adults, senior clubs, and agencies, this manual documents the process of developing community education programs for older adults. The first section introduces the concept of a community learning center, while the second section considers whether a learning center should be…

Employs an "implementation estimate" technique to identify potential fiscal, administrative and political consequences of implementing the 100,000 minimum population provision for designating planning and service areas (PSAs) under the 1978 amendments to the Older Americans Act. Findings suggest implementation estimating is useful for…

The elderly are faced with attempts to defraud, mislead, and confuse them about health consumerism. The development of consumer education classes directed toward the needs and interests of the aging population will combat the problem. The development, implementation, and evaluation of such programs are described. (Author)

The need to provide consumer drug education to the elderly has been well-documented. Pharmacists and pharmacy students must learn how to present the material to this population in order to encourage more appropriate use. The Maryland Elder-Ed program represents a unique approach to meeting these needs. (Author/MLW)

The AAHPERD Physical Fitness Task Force was formed to develop an effective and appropriate health status test for older adults. This article describes the procedures employed by the Task Force to develop and validate the test. (IAH)

High-quality leisure education programs for the elderly are few in number considering the size of the older population. Most existing programs are probably inappropriate for the elderly age group. Better perspectives and understanding on the part of leisure educators is needed. Leisure education programs for the elderly may become more plentiful…