Blueprint Partners Progress Newsletter: January 2006

In This Issue

New NCOA Issue Brief on Research and Practice
PCPFS Invites Partners to Join in 50th Anniversary Campaign
AARP Evaluates its Walking Campaign
Report Released on the Health and Wellness Industries
ICAA Online Fitness Toolkit
Study on Physical Activity and Life Expectancy with Diabetes
Upcoming Events: February-April 2006

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New NCOA Issue Brief on Research and Practice Keeping Current on Research and Practice in Physical Activity for Older Adults is the fourth issue brief in a series promoting best practices in physical activity programming. The focus of this publication is to encourage physical activity programmers to stay on top of the latest research and best practices in the field of physical activity and older adults. It provides steps in creating a learning plan, and offers a variety of tools and resources that will help connect organizations with the most current research and practice.

PCPFS Invites Partners to Join in the 50th Anniversary Campaign
2006 is the 50th Anniversary of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. In celebration, the organization has launched a 50th Anniversary Get America Moving campaign this month. Individuals, organizations, and public and private entities that promote physical activity are invited to join the campaign.

AARP Evaluates its Walking Campaign
AARP released a report on both the population-level and individual-level evaluations of the five-city walking pilot that tested the effectiveness of different elements of a walking program. These elements included media only, Raleigh, NC; media with step counters, Columbia, SC; media with peer support, Little Rock, AK; and media with step counters and peer support, Montgomery, AL. The pilot was initially implemented in Richmond, VA.

Report Released on the Health and Wellness Industries
The International Council on Active Aging released Active Aging in America: Residential and Commercial Fitness United States 2005, with data profiling 12 industries that serve the health and well-being of older adults. The publication provides market perspectives, demographic statistics, and information about housing, community services, fitness facilities, and corporate wellness.

ICAA Online Fitness Toolkit
“Welcome Back to Fitness” is a toolkit to help older adults return to a fitness routine. The toolkit includes various checklists, questions to ask your doctor about exercising, and guides to age-friendly fitness centers, equipment, and trainers.
www.icaa.cc

Study on Physical Activity and Life Expectancy with Diabetes
Data from the 46-year Framingham Heart Study showed that at age 50, the life expectancy free of diabetes is 2.3 years longer for moderately active people and at least 4 years longer for highly active individuals. Life expectancy with the disease is approximately 0.5 years less for moderately active people and 0.1 years less for those who are highly active. Source: Diabetes Care, January 2006.

Upcoming Events: February-April 2006
Third Annual Active Living Research Conference
Active Living Research
Feb. 16-18; Coronado, CA

23rd Annual Fitness Weekend
Fifty-Plus Fitness Association
March 10-12; Palo Alto, CA

2006 Joint Conference of NCOA and ASA
National Council on the Aging, American Society on Aging
March 16-19; Anaheim, CA

IHRSA 25th Anniversary International Convention & Trade Show
International Health Racquet & Sportsclub Association
March 20-23; Las Vegas, NV

National Hispanic Council on Aging 9th Annual Conference
April 7-9; Miami, FL

ACSM Health & Fitness Summit
American College of Sports Medicine
April 11-14; Orlando, FL

International Congress on Physical Activity and Public Health
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
April 17-20; Atlanta, GA

2006 AAHPERD National Convention
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance
April 25-29; Salt Lake City, UT

American Occupational Therapy Association 86th Annual Conference
April 27-30; Charlotte, NC

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The Blueprint Partners Project is an initiative of the Active Aging Partnership. For more information, contact the Blueprint Partnership Office at the University of Illinois Department of Kinesiology and Community Health.
Website: www.agingblueprint.org