A Week of Activity (and Dogs)!
The first Monday of every October, along with the week following it, has been established as Active Aging Week by the International Council on Active Aging. This year, Active Aging Week runs from October 3rd to October 9th.
The International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) is a professional association focused on leading, connecting, and defining the active-aging industry. Active aging is an approach to aging that helps older adults live life as fully as possible within all dimensions of wellness. ICAA is an active aging educator and advocate, and has advised numerous organizations and governmental bodies, in addition to providing its members with education, information, resources, and tools. Another way ICAA is involved in the active aging community is by supporting professionals who aspire to develop wellness cultures for adults over the age of 50 by creating wellness environments, programs, and services. Active Aging Weeks is one of ICAA’s initiatives created to transform the active aging community.
Active Aging Week was created in 2003 to celebrate aging and the benefits of active living at any age while showcasing the capabilities of older adults as fully participating members of society. As mentioned on the Active Aging Week website, “Active Aging Week challenges society’s diminished expectations of aging by showing that, regardless of age or health conditions, adults over 50 can live as fully as possible in all areas of life—physical, social, spiritual, emotional, intellectual, vocational, and environmental. The objective of the annual health-promotion event is to give as many older adults as possible the means to experience wellness activities and exercise in a safe, supportive environment. It also promotes the benefits of healthier, more active lifestyles across the life span.” It is important for older adults to not limit their capabilities as they age and to understand that it is necessary to prioritize healthy lifestyles and wellness.
Events for Active Aging Week can be found at continuing care retirement communities, active living communities, seniors centers, health clubs, park, recreation centers, and even apartment/condominium complexes, among many other places. Some examples of activities offered at active aging events are walks (strolls and faster paced), group-exercise classes, yoga, pilates, various recreational sports competitions, and more. The goal is that every activity is age-friendly and provides the information, access, and motivation that people may need to become and stay active. Colin Milner, the founder and CEO of ICAA stated that “Active Aging Week is an ideal opportunity for organizations that work with older adults to celebrate the importance of embracing wellness to enrich quality of life and foster vibrant communities.” Some other Active Aging Week offerings from the past have included homecoming dances, gardening workshops, cooking demonstrations, educational lectures, and more. The is a whole range of possible Active Aging Week offerings to appeal to all types of healthy lifestyle and wellness goals and interests.
If none of these numerous Active Aging Week events piques your interest, there are always many other ways to focus on actively aging. It just so happens that the week of October 1st to October 7th is National Walk Your Dog Week! Walking your dog is an easy, convenient, and efficient way to help everyone and anyone live an active lifestyle. National Walk Your Dog Week was created as a reminder to pet owners that exercise is critical for their canine companions. But as we know, exercise is also critical for our own health and well-being. If you own a dog, National Walk Your Dog Week is a great opportunity to motivate yourself to get you and your canine companion active and in the habit of exercising. The week is also a great opportunity to bond with your dog, because let’s be honest, you can never spend too much time with your furry family members!
We hope the information shared helps motivate you to actively age. There are so many benefits to living a healthy lifestyle – one of those benefits being your vision health. As a reminder, it is important to get an annual comprehensive eye exam to monitor your vision health, along with your general health since it is known that comprehensive eye exams can detect a variety of health conditions. If you haven’t already gotten a comprehensive eye exam recently, please reach out to Coastal Eye Group to schedule an appointment with one of our doctors.
