Blueprint Partners Progress Newsletter: December 2006

In This Issue
Disability Declined Among Older Adults, Study Shows
2005 White House Conference on Aging Report Now Available
Report Available on Recommendations for Falls Injury Surveillance
Study Highlights Features of Activity-Friendly Communities
OASIS Develops New Falls Prevention Course
CDC Develops a Model Fitness Center
Five Awardees Receive Funding to Improve Bike Trails
Dog Walking Helps Keep Seniors Active, Study Shows

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Disability Declined Among Older Adults, Study Shows
A new analysis of data from the National Long-Term Care Survey found that the prevalence of chronic disability among people age 65 and older declined from 26.5 percent in 1982 to 19 percent in 2004/2005. In addition, the average annual rate of decline has accelerated from .6 percent rate of change in 1984 to 2.2 percent in 2004/2005. The findings suggest that older Americans’ health and function continue to improve, according to the National Institute on Aging.
www.nih.gov/news

2005 White House Conference on Aging Report Now Available
The final report from the Dec. 2005 White House Conference on Aging is now available online. The report contains an executive summary, a list of the 50 resolutions adopted, and the delegates’ implementation strategies.
Supporting documents are available.

Report Available on Recommendations for Falls Injury Surveillance
The State and Territorial Injury Prevention Directors Association developed a report on the latest guidelines issued by a national workgroup to improve standardization in the collection of injury data. The workgroup examined more than 20 health care and related data sources that can be used to monitor falls and associated injuries in national, state, and local jurisdictional levels.

Study Highlights Features of Activity-Friendly Communities
St. Louis University researchers analyzed academic literature, reports, and websites to create a list of indicators of communities that encourage activity. Two panels of experts prioritized the findings to the top 10 factors that influence activity levels. Among the findings include:
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  • Community features such as hiking and biking trails and crosswalks promote walking and bike use.
  • Monuments and historic attractions encourage people to move about.
  • Institutional and organizational polices such as encouraging physical activity programs at schools, work flextime, and having gyms in the workplace promote active lifestyles.
  • Promotional campaigns and media messages build awareness of the importance of physical activity for health. (Source: Newswise)
    www.newswise.comOASIS Develops New Falls Prevention Course
    OASIS, a nonprofit educational organization, is creating a new falls prevention course for older adults. The course will provide an overview of falls prevention, and focus on home environment safety and physical activity and balance training. The curriculum will be available for programs serving older adults across the country in 2007. OASIS is working with Dr. Jon Pynoos, Dr. Christy Nishita, and Dr. Debbie Rose to develop the course.

    CDC Develops a Model Fitness Center
    The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta recently opened a newly renovated fitness center for its employees, containing $200,000 worth of equipment. The facility features more than 70 strength-training and cardiovascular machines, an indoor cycling room, and an aerobics room. Two “quiet rooms” allow employees to sit in zero-gravity chairs in a dark room, listening to music and viewing a panel of changing lights. The number of employees using the center has more than doubled since it was renovated. CDC also offers weight management classes, health assessments, and walking programs.
    (Source: Associated Press)

    Five Awardees Receive Funding to Improve Bike Trails and Facilities
    Bikes Belong, a national coalition of bike suppliers and retailers, funded five grants totaling $40,000 to support bike paths and trails. The five awardees include the following:
    (1) City of Carrollton (GA), to build a trail that will connect city schools, parks, and neighborhoods with stores and businesses.
    (2) Des Moines County (IO), to complete a 1.5 mile trail that will be a bicycle and pedestrian “gateway” to the town.
    (3) City of Fitchburg (MA), to build a BMX park next to an existing skate park and, consequently, ending the ongoing conflict between skaters and BMXers over use of facilities.
    (4) Hoosier Mountain Bike Assoc. (IN), to develop 10 more miles of sustainable mountain bike trails in Brown County State Park.
    (5) ClevelandBikes (OH), to develop and promote a downtown bike station near the transit hub.

    Dog Walking Helps Keep Seniors Active, Study Shows
    Older adults who walk their dogs regularly were more likely than seniors without pets to walk 150 minutes per week, according to a study published in the Sept. 2006 Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. The dog walkers’ walking speeds were also faster than those who did not own dogs and those who did not walk their dogs regularly. The mobility advantages associated with dog walking were no greater than those associated with walking in general, yet dog ownership may provide the motivation to get outdoors and walk.
    (Source: Reuters)