Research Programs

Active for Life® National Program Office

Overview: A physically active lifestyle is key to successful aging; however, few older adults engage in regular physical activity. To address physical activity among older adults, the Active for Life Program® was established at SRPH, TAMHSC. Active for Life is one of six Active Living programs by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The goals of the program are to learn how to better deliver research based physical activity programs to the age 50 and older population and finding ways to sustain these programs through existing community structures.

CDC Centers for Healthy Aging Research Network

Overview: Each of the nation’s 33 Prevention Research Centers (PRCs) focuses on a particular theme, such as a health problem of great concern, a specific population, or a defined geographic area. All of the PRCs  have two major goals in common: 1) identification of solutions for vulnerable populations, and 2) formation of partnerships between health departments, academic units, health care organizations and community groups. 

Program on Healthy Aging, Texas A&M Health Science Center, SRPH

Overview: With increased longevity and population aging, new concerns are raised about the quality of Americans’ longer lives. To address these concerns, the Program on Healthy Aging provides a coordinated focus for research and practice on strategies for understanding and promoting successful aging. Specifically, the program coalesces a number of distinct but related aging and health promotion oriented research programs under the leadership of Dr. Ory including the RWJ Active for Life Program, The Texas Healthy Lifestyles Project, and the Texas Falls Prevention Coalition. The primary focus of this overarching program is on social, behavioral and environmental factors across the full spectrum of the older population. Basic and applied research activities center on identification of social, behavioral, and environmental determinants for health and illness in older populations, Understanding of factors associated with optimal self-management and living independently with chronic illnesses and disabilities in later life; and Design and evaluation of multi-level interventions to promote health, prevent disease, and postpone disability in older adults.

The National Blueprint: Increasing Physical Activity Among Adults Aged 50 and Older

Overview: The National Blueprint has been 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. This Blueprint is intended to outline broad strategies that will lead to increasing physical activity among older Americans. The plan was developed with input from more than 60 individuals, representing 46 organizations with expertise in health, medicine, social and behavioral sciences, epidemiology, gerontology/geriatrics, clinical science, public policy, marketing, medical systems, community organization, and environmental issues.

Southwest Rural Health Center

Overview: The Southwest Rural Health Research Center was established in 2000 as one of only six federally funded research centers by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy. The center focuses on conducting policy relevant research on meeting the needs of special rural populations, minority populations and health disparities (including border populations), and rural systems building. Research projects have focused on chronic disease management, mental health and substance abuse services, community health workers (promotora), medical policy, quality differences in rural and urban nursing homes and assisted living centers, professional shortages, mental health and substance abuse services, and the development of Rural Healthy People 2010: A companion document to Healthy People 2010.