title: Environments for healthy aging: linking prevention research and public health practice.
abstract: Safe and well-designed community environments support healthful behaviors that help prevent chronic conditions and unintentional injuries and enable older adults to be active and engaged in community life for as long as possible. We describe the work of the Healthy Aging Research Network (HAN) and partners over the past decade to better understand place-based determinants of health and translate that knowledge to real-world practice, with a focus on environmental strategies. Using key components of the Knowledge to Action framework, we document the importance of a sustained, multidisciplinary, collaborative approach and ongoing interaction between researchers and communities. We share examples of practical tools and strategies designed to engage and support critical sectors with the potential to enhance the health and well-being of older adults and their communities. We conclude with a description of lessons learned in facilitating the translation of prevention research into practice.
authors.affiliation: Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, University of North Carolina, 228 Indian Trail Rd, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, USA. Rebecca_Hunter@unc.edu
authors.forename: Rebecca H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: Lynda A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Anderson
authors.forename: Basia
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Belza
authors.forename: Kristin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bodiford
authors.forename: Steven P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Hooker
authors.forename: Chris S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Kochtitzky
authors.forename: David X
authors.initials: DX
authors.lastname: Marquez
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Satariano
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002487:Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S.; D003152:Community Health Nursing; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D006299:Health Services for the Aged / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D051188:Knowledge Bases; D008297:Male; D010317:Partnership Practice / Q000458:organization & administration; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000379:methods*; D016730:Program Development; D015980:Public Health Practice; D012931:Social Environment; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States