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DLW in the Community
Patricia Clark, ALCOA National Executive Director
Patricia Clark is the National Executive Director for the Active Living Coalition for Older Adults (ALCOA). She has worked in the health and fitness field for over 30 years, with a focus on health promotion and active healthy living. Her work and life are a perfect fit, being able to live in the country, enjoy the outdoors, and work in a profession that is so rewarding.
Why did you think the Do Live Well Framework would be helpful for members of ALCOA?
The Active Living Coalition for Older Adults strives to promote a society where all older Canadians are leading active lifestyles that contribute to their overall well-being and ongoing independence. Through ALCOA’s network and membership we have the capacity to reach over 1,000,000 older adults in Canada with the Do Live Well message. The Do Live Well message is useful for all Canadians (not just older adults), to help them understand and value how the activities of our daily living can have a huge impact on our overall health and wellbeing. It is not about having to become a marathon runner, but it is about how everything we “DO” every day really does matter. Behaviour change at any age is difficult, but as we age, we have adopted certain behaviours for several decades and are not ready to make significant changes to our lives. Do Live Well shows us how personal choices and social forces can have a positive impact on our health and lifestyle.
Can you give any examples of how the Do Live Well Framework is unique?
Many models consider one or two factors and their relationship to one’s health. The Do Live Well Message reinforces the importance of every day experiences, and how our activity patterns can dramatically influence our health and wellness outcomes. Our mental, physical, social, and spiritual health are all related and in that relationship can all be affected by what we do every day. It is important for us to understand and to value the effect of how our current everyday activities, or how small changes to those every day activities affect our overall wellbeing. The Do Live Well framework explains this concept in an easy to understand model. Whether is it playing cards or scrabble with friends; taking a walk; volunteering; enjoying music and socializing with friends; doing Tai Chi; connecting with nature; playing with our grandchildren; everything we “DO” each day matters. And by incorporating more “DOING” into our life, the healthier we will be.
