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Second Annual Walk-A-Thon
A fun, non-competitive event for
the whole family!
Sometime in Spring 2007 (Date to be announced), 9:30 AM-Noon
Kehoe Track, University
of Maryland
Minimum Donation: $10.00 per walker
What is the AHDP?
The AHDP is an intergenerational health promotion
and rehabilitation program in which college students are paired
with older adults for the purpose of engaging in health and wellness
activities.
The AHDP concept has spread throughout the country to about 13
other colleges and universities. This network is called the Network for Intergenerational
Health (NIH). Our hope is to use the AHDP/NIH to develop good
will between developing and developed nation-states and the U.S.
What is a Member?
"Member" refers to the older adult participant
in the AHDP. Our Members include immigrants from other countries,
who live independently in the community, groups from the Veteran's
Administration Nursing Home, developmentally challenged individuals
and senior citizens from the local community. Thus, the Members
range in health status from those who engage in high level physical
competition, to those who have specific health needs or disabilities.
(See: Members)
The program encourages adult "Members," age 50 and
over, to engage in activity which positively affects their health,
well-being, physical fitness, and health knowledge. Through social
interaction, fun and support, Members are able to increase their
health and fitness as well as personal growth. (See: Related Research) Through the AHDP, Members
learn to mitigate various health aspects of their lives and develop
a sense of competence, control and well being. (See: Goals of the AHDP/NIH)
What is a Staffer?
"Staffer" refers to the students and volunteers. A key
to the program is that college "Staffers" are trained to work on
a one-to-one basis as friendly coaches with their Members to develop
a unique health and wellness program specifically tailored to each
Member. Staffers are university and high school students from a
variety of majors as well as volunteers, who receive special training
and close supervision from senior staff. (See: Staffers)
At the AHDP, all Staffers learn to translate gerontological health
theory into practice in a culturally-integrated milieu. (See: Keys to the AHDP/NIH)
Each semester approximately 60 staffers are trained to work with
older institutionalized and non-institutionalized adult members,
using an ACAEM Paradigm, on a one-to-one basis. The
staffer helps his or her member get into a health and well-being
pattern of behavior by participation in the physical, social, and
health education activities of the AHDP. The nature of physical
and social activities, and health education (where staffers and
members learn together) in an intergenerational context is non-threatening
and enjoyable. Thus members and staffers return year after year.
What is a Senior Staffer?
The 25-30 senior staffers who serve as mentors and supervisors
to the staffers, and participate in all administrative aspects of
the program in collaboration with the director.
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For more information please contact Raquel Peat,
Ph.D., Director
HHP Building, Valley Drive
University of Maryland, College Park, MD 20742-2611
301-405-2528 or 301-405-2463
FAX: 301-314-9167
rpeat@umd.edu
Last Updated September 2006
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