Links for SHAPE site.
LINKS: Chicago
University of Illinois at Chicago : Institute for Health Research and Policy . at the University of Illinois at Chicago stimulates and supports a broad range of high-quality research to improve health practices and policies in the Midwest and beyond.
University of Illinois at Chicago: Center for Research on Health and Aging conducts rigorous applied research on health issues for older persons, including prevention, health maintenance, and the cost, quality, and effectiveness of health care delivery systems for this population, such as long-term care and managed care.
Susan L. Hughes , DSW, Co-Director of the Center for Research in Health and Aging at the University of Illinois at Chicago
Thomas R. Prohaska , PhD, Co-Director of the Center for Research in Health and Aging at the University of Illinois at Chicago
National Center on Physical Activity and Disability (NCPAD) The mission is to promote substantial health benefits that can be gained from participating in regular physical activity. The slogan of NCPAD is Exercise is for EVERY body , and every person can gain some health benefit from being more physically active. This site provides information and resources that can enable people with disabilities to become as physically active as they choose to be.
Mayor's Fitness Council The Mayor's Fitness Council (MFC) promotes, encourages and motivates the development of a physically active and healthy lifestyle for Chicagoans of all ages.
LINKS: National
AARP . AARP provides a number of links to help older adults get motivated to make healthy changes to their lives.
Active for Life : Increasing Physical Activity Levels in Adults Age 50 and Older. In an effort to learn more about conducting effective behavioral programs related to physical activity, Active for Life is taking research-based programs, introducing them into community settings, providing structured social marketing support and conducting independent evaluation to measure effectiveness.
Active Living Every Day : The mission of Active Living Partners is to help adults adopt and maintain physically active lifestyles. Our premier course, Active Living Every Day , teaches people skills they need to realistically fit physical activity into their daily lives. Active Living Every Day is offered both as an online course and as an in-person course through registered Community Centers
Aging, Physical Activity and Health by Roy J. Shephard: This book analyzes current theories and evidence of how aging and exercising affect such conditions as cardiorespiratory and musculoskeletal diseases, metabolic health, mental function, and general well-being. Also discusses demographics and economic and social consequences of an aging society.
American College of Sports Medicine advances and integrates scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.
American Council on Exercise is the largest nonprofit fitness certification and education provider in the world. Widely recognized as " America 's Authority on Fitness," ACE continually sets standards and protects the public against unqualified fitness professionals and unsafe or ineffective fitness products, programs and trends. ACE Health and Fitness Tips offer insight into the latest research, trends and workouts.
American Geriatrics Society is the premier professional organization of health care providers dedicated to improving the health and well-being of all older adults. With an active membership of over 6,800 health care professionals, the AGS has a long history of effecting change in the provision of health care for older adults. In the last decade, the Society has become a pivotal force in shaping attitudes, policies and practices regarding health care for older people
American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) is a national professional organization representing more than 63,000 members. Its goal is to foster advancements in physical therapy practice, research, and education.
American Senior Fitness Association : An organization dedicated to professional training and certification for older adult fitness specialists. ASFA will assist persons in gaining the most in-depth professional training available to senior fitness practitioners
Arthritis Foundation the home page for this organization has links to information about arthritis, community events, medication education, a variety of pamphlets and booklets, and local connections.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Healthy Aging Research Network : is funded by the CDC, and envisioned to assist with the development of a research and dissemination agenda related to the public health aspects of healthy aging. Nine universities, including UIC, participate in the HAN and provide the area expertise necessary for its success. As with all PRC research programs, there is a strong focus on partnering with community based groups to develop programs that improve health, with a special emphasis on those communities and populations which bear a disproportionate burden of illness and disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion . The CDC provides a comprehensive list pertaining to the importance of physical activity, recommendations, how to start a program of physical activity, and many other valuable tips and suggestions.
Creating Communities for Active Aging : This pamphlet is a guide to developing a strategic plan to increase walking and biking by older adults in your community.
Exercise for the Elderly : Is it safe for me to exercise? An overview on safety issues pertaining to physical activity for older adults from the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Fitness Library: provides information about Getting & staying active, fitness equipment, managing your weight and nutrition made easy.
Gerontological Society of America is a non-profit professional organization with more than 5000 members in the field of aging. GSA provides researchers, educators, practitioners, and policy makers with opportunities to understand, advance, integrate, and use basic and applied research on aging to improve the quality of life as one ages.
International Council on Active Aging : The world's largest association dedicated to changing the way we age by uniting and working with professionals in the retirement, assisted living, recreation, fitness, rehabilitation, medical and wellness fields. The ICAA connects a community of like-minded professionals who share the goals of changing society's perceptions of aging and improving the quality of life for aging Baby Boomers and older adults within the six dimensions of wellness (emotional, vocational, physical, spiritual, intellectual, social.)
International Society for Aging and Physical Activity : ISAPA is an international not-for-profit society promoting research, clinical practice, and public policy initiatives in the area of aging and physical activity.
Journal of Aging and Physical Activity . The official journal of the International Society for Aging and Physical Activity. A multidisciplinary journal examines the dynamic relationship between physical activity and the aging process.
National Blueprint: Increasing Physical Activity Among Adults Aged 50 and older. The blueprint was developed to serve as a guide for multiple organizations, associations and agencies, to inform and support their planning work related to increasing physical activity among America 's aging population.
National Coalition for the Promotion of Physical Activity : Their mission is to unite the strengths of public, private, and industry efforts into collaborative partnerships that inspire and empower all Americans to lead more physically active lifestyles
National Council on the Aging is a national network of organizations and individuals dedicated to improving the health and independence of older persons and increasing their continuing contributions to communities, society and future generations
National Institutes of Health, Health Information: Exercise for Seniors . From the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, this website contains links to a variety of websites relating to exercise, disease management, disease prevention, and other related matters.
National Institute on Aging. Healthy Aging publications : This website provides an order form for books and pamphlets pertaining to Healthy Aging issues.
National Institute on Aging. Exercise: A guide from the National Institute on Aging (Under Construction). This website is an order form for the National Institute on Aging's exercise guide.
President's Council on Fitness and Sport : Physical Activity and Aging: Implications for Health and Quality of Life in Older Persons . www.fitness.gov is the health, physical activity, fitness and sports information website of the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports. You can find out about the Council and its work, view their publications, and link to the resources of other government agencies as well as to health and fitness organizations
Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health . In 1996, the U.S. Surgeon General produced the first report pertaining to physical activity and health. The main message of this report is that Americans can substantially improve their health and quality of life by including moderate amounts of physical activity in their daily lives.
University of South Carolina Prevention Research Center initially funded in 1993 as part of the Prevention Research Centers Program of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The USC PRC, is one of 33 university-based centers conducting applied research and practice in chronic disease prevention and control. Their PRC theme is Promoting Health Through Physical Activity . The site lists a number of national and local walking and bicycling programs, along with a wide variety of other types of physical activity programs throughout the country.
U.S. Administration on Aging: Promoting Healthy Lifestyles . AOA has a list of contacts and resources regarding physical activity and nutrition programs for alders and families.
World Health Organization. Heidelberg Guidelines for Promoting Physical Activity Among Older Persons . WHO provides guidelines for facilitating the development of strategies and policies in both population and community based interventions aimed at maintaining and/or increasing the level of physical activity for all older adults.
LINKS: International
Public Health Agency of Canada . Canada's Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living for Older Adults . This guide serves as a roadmap for older adults - explaining why physical activity is important, offering tips and easy ways to increase their physical activity, and stating how much is needed to maintain good health and improved quality of living later in life
British Heart Foundation. National Centre for Physical Activity and Health . The Active for Later Life Resource aims to help all those involved in developing physical activity programmes for older people of all ages and abilities. It includes summaries of evidence and recommendations, policy and strategic connections, as well as a series of working papers and practical guidance documents and ideas on programming physical activity opportunities for older people
