Blueprint Partners Progress Newsletter: March 2006

In This Issue

New Report on Helping Older Adults Make Healthy Choices
Older Americans Month – May 2006
Survey Findings on Health Coverage for Aging Baby Boomers
Create an Indoor Walking Trail
Attitudes about Mobility and Transportation
The Link between Physical Activity and Brain Health
Study Shows Dog Ownership Promotes Physical Activity
Grant Funding Opportunity: Active Living Research

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New Report on Helping Older Adults Make Healthy Choices
The Center for the Advancement of Health, in collaboration with the National Council on the Aging, developed a report that summarizes the evidence on the benefits of health promotion for older adults. “A New Vision of Aging: Helping Older Adults Make Healthier Choices” also identifies programs that effectively help older people live longer and healthier lives and lists immediate opportunities for improvement.

Older Americans Month – May 2006
The Administration on Aging (AOA) has selected the theme for this year’s Older Americans Month: “Choices for Independence.” Logos and posters can be downloaded from the AOA website.

Create an Indoor Walking Trail
AOA is also offering a set of posters to partners for use in creating a You Can! Indoor Walking Trail. Use signs to designate a starting point and a finish line, with at least 500 steps in between.
www.aoa.gov

Survey Findings on Health Coverage for Aging Baby Boomers
Sixty-two percent of adults age 50-64 reported that they have at least one of six chronic health conditions and at least one-fifth in working households were uninsured or had unstable insurance coverage since age 50. According to the Commonwealth Fund Survey of Older Adults, 23 percent reported at least one cost-related problem with access to health care and more than one-third had a medical bill problem in the past year or were paying off accrued medical expenses. The January 2006 report on health coverage for baby boomers is available at
www.cmwf.org

Attitudes about Mobility and Transportation
A majority (82%) of older Americans place a high importance on their mobility and worry about being stranded when they are unable to drive, according to the American Public Transportation Association. A survey by Harris Interactive showed that 42 percent of older adults feel that their community has not done enough planning for its senior citizens. Eight out of 10 older adults believe that public transportation is a better alternative to driving alone, especially at night.

The Link between Physical Activity and Brain Health
The Alzheimer’s Association reported that findings from a National Institutes of Health study showed a close correlation between physical activity and cognitive functioning. Three separate, large-scale observational studies concluded that older adults who exercise are less likely to experience cognitive decline. More research is needed before specific recommendations can be made regarding the duration and intensity of exercise for healthy outcomes. The report was published in the February Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Study Shows Dog Ownership Promotes Physical Activity
Canadian dog owners spend more time in mild and moderate physical activities and walked an average of 132 minutes more per week than non-dog owners, according to a study published in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (Vol. 30, Issue 2, pp. 131-136.)

Grant Funding Opportunity: Active Living Research
Up to $1.1 million is available for research grants through the Active Living Research Call for Proposals-Round 6. The purpose of this grant is to increase understanding of the relationship between environmental characteristics and physical activity. The deadline is May 10, 2006.
www.activelivingresearch.org

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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