AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project

{{Short description|Health program in Albert Lea, Minnesota}} {{Multiple issues| {{promotional|date=October 2024}} {{POV|date=October 2024}} }}

The '''AARP/Blue Zones Vitality Project''' is an initiative aimed at improving well-being that began in January 2009 when the city of Albert Lea, Minnesota, launched the initiative with assistance from the United Health Foundation and led by Dan Buettner, author of "''The Blue Zones: Lessons for Living Longer From the People Who've Lived the Longest''."<ref> {{Citation | last = Tomczyk | first = Amy | title = About the Vitality Project | url = http://www.bluezones.com/vitality-project-about | accessdate = 23 October 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20091008043656/http://www.bluezones.com/vitality-project-about | archive-date = 8 October 2009 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }} </ref><ref> {{Citation | title = All About the Project: How AARP and Blue Zones created America's healthiest hometown | url=http://www.aarpmagazine.org/health/vitality_national/about.html | accessdate = 23 October 2009 }}</ref><ref> {{Citation | last = Stultz | first = Sarah | title = Vitality Project leader: 'You've pulled it off' | newspaper = The Albert Lea Tribune | location = Albert Lea, Minnesota | date = 14 October 2009 | url =http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/2009/oct/14/vitality-project-leader-youve-pulled-it/ | accessdate = }} </ref>

==Vitality Project Initiatives== Initiatives within the Vitality Project were divided into categories such as habitat, social networking, community, and purpose.<ref>{{Citation | last = Tribune Staff | title = Vitality Project participants add an average of 3 years of life expectancy | newspaper = The Albert Lea Tribune | location = Albert Lea, Minnesota | date = 13 October 2009 | url = http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/2009/oct/13/albert-lea-vitality-project-participants-add-3-yea/ | accessdate =  }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> Some initiatives were specific to one category while others spanned several categories.<ref> {{Cite web |title=Resources |url=http://www.aarpmagazine.org/health/vitality_project/resources.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090928012725/http://www.aarpmagazine.org:80/health/vitality_project/resources.html |archive-date=September 28, 2009 |website=AARP}} </ref>

* '''Walking Moai Program:''' Over 500 participants formed approximately 70 "walking moais," groups of 4-10 walkers meeting weekly to walk to a set destination and back. They collectively walked over 75 million steps and engaged in over 2,200 hours of volunteer work.<ref> {{Citation | title = Recorded Steps: Walking Moai | url = http://moai.albertleajournal.com | accessdate = 23 October 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090727040434/http://moai.albertleajournal.com/ | archive-date = 27 July 2009 | url-status = dead | df = dmy-all }} </ref><ref>{{Citation | last = Erickson | first = Jeshua | title = Walking Moai competition heats up | newspaper = The Albert Lea Tribune | location = Albert Lea, Minnesota | date = 26 June 2009 | url = http://www.albertleatribune.com/weblogs/jeshua-erickson/2009/jun/26/walking-moai-competition-heats/ | accessdate =  }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

* '''Walking School Bus:''' This program enlisted parents and volunteers to walk groups of children to elementary schools, promoting walking, building social networks, and enhancing safety.<ref name=usatoday> {{Citation | last = Marcus | first = Mary Brophy | title = Town sets off on healthy path practicing 4 keys to longevity | newspaper = USA Today | location = Albert Lea, Minnesota | date = 15 June 2009 | url =https://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-06-14-longevity_N.htm | accessdate = }} </ref>

* '''Vitality Compass:''' An online tool assessing participants' habits and providing an approximate life expectancy. Participants took the survey at the beginning and end of the program, with the average life expectancy increasing by three years.<ref>{{Citation | last = Stultz | first = Sarah | title = 1 week remains to retake Vitality Compass | newspaper = The Albert Lea Tribune | location = Albert Lea, Minnesota | date = 6 October 2009 | url = http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/2009/oct/06/1-week-remains-retake-vitality-compass/ | accessdate =  }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

* '''Volunteering:''' Participants were encouraged to volunteer in their community.<ref> {{Citation | last = Tribune Staff | title = Vitality Living series: Kenyan foods, American life | newspaper = The Albert Lea Tribune | location = Albert Lea, Minnesota | date = 22 October 2009 | url = http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/2009/oct/22/vitality-living-series-kenyan-foods-american-life/ | accessdate = }} </ref>

* '''Employers:''' Employers were encouraged to make their work environments more amenable to practices leading to good health. For example, some employers added healthy alternatives to vending machines.<ref> {{Citation | last = Tribune Staff | title = Employers to be recognized for participation in Vitality Project pledge | newspaper = The Albert Lea Tribune | location = Albert Lea, Minnesota | date = 3 October 2009 | url = http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/2009/oct/22/vitality-living-series-kenyan-foods-american-life/ | accessdate = }} </ref>

* '''Grocery Stores:''' Grocery stores encouraged to feature foods thought to engender better health and increased life expectancy.<ref name=usatoday /><ref> {{Citation | last = Stultz | first = Sarah | title = Local diet, exercise workers welcome Blue Zones advice | newspaper = The Albert Lea Tribune | location = Albert Lea, Minnesota | date = 9 September 2009 | url = http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/2009/sep/26/local-diet-exercise-workers-welcome-blue-zones-adv/ | accessdate = }} </ref>

* '''Neighborhood Picnics:''' To encourage community building and social networking, several neighborhood picnics were held, and everyone in a given neighborhood were invited to attend.<ref> {{Citation | last = Harvey | first = Ken | title = A Minnesota Blue Zone? It's closer than before | newspaper = MinnPost.com | location = Albert Lea, Minnesota | date = 26 August 2009 | url = http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2009/08/26/11118/a_minnesota_blue_zone_its_closer_than_before | accessdate =  | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100421075437/http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2009/08/26/11118/a_minnesota_blue_zone_its_closer_than_before | archive-date = 21 April 2010 | url-status=dead | df = dmy-all }} </ref>

* '''Community Gardens:''' Space made available for citizens of Albert Lea to plant vegetables and flowers, promoting urban gardening.<ref> {{Citation | last = Williams | first = Chris and Patrick Condon | title = Minn. city's get-healthy effort called a success | newspaper = Associated Press | location = Albert Lea, Minnesota | date = 14 October 2009 | url = http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_TOWNS_HEALTHY_MAKEOVER?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2009-10-14-13-58-44 | accessdate = }} </ref>

* '''Purpose Workshops:''' Free workshops focused on helping individuals find their sense of purpose,<ref>{{Citation | last = Stultz | first = Sarah | title = Final chance for attending a free purpose workshop | newspaper = The Albert Lea Tribune | location = Albert Lea, Minnesota | date = 3 October 2009 | url = http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/2009/oct/03/final-chance-attending-free/ | accessdate =  }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> led by recognized experts.<ref> {{Citation | last = Stultz | first = Sarah | title = Expert: Purpose matters | newspaper = The Albert Lea Tribune | location = Albert Lea, Minnesota | date = 21 May 2009 | url = http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/2009/may/21/expert-purpose-matters/ | accessdate = }}</ref>

==Walkability== Early in the Vitality Project, organizers invited Dan Burden to come speak to community leaders and do a "walkability audit".<ref>{{Citation | title = Walkability Audit | url = http://www.cityofalbertlea.org/?page_id=3994 | accessdate = 26 October 2009 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> In this audit, Burden toured Albert Lea on foot and pointed out ways that the city could make Albert Lea more walkable.<ref>{{Citation | last = Engstrom | first = Tim | title = Walkable audit of Albert Lea offers Bridge Avenue ideas | newspaper = The Albert Lea Tribune | location = Albert Lea, Minnesota | date = 16 January 2009 | url = http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/2009/jan/16/walkable-audit-albert-lea-offers-bridge-avenue-ide/ | accessdate =  | archive-date = 27 June 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090627070357/http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/2009/jan/16/walkable-audit-albert-lea-offers-bridge-avenue-ide/ | url-status = dead }}</ref> Since then, the city has added a sidewalk which connects several portions of a well-traveled path around Fountain Lake.<ref>{{Citation | last = Stultz | first = Sarah | title = City celebrates sidewalks around lake | newspaper = The Albert Lea Tribune | location = Albert Lea, Minnesota | date = 7 October 2009 | url = http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/2009/oct/07/city-leaders-celebrate-completion-sidewalks-around/ | accessdate =  }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Sustainability== The city also established a sustainability committee focused on maintaining implemented practices. Their goal is that Albert Lea will have a Vitality Center where leaders of other cities, organizations, and individuals can learn about how making small changes in lifestyle as a community can help improve health and life expectancy.<ref> {{Citation | title = Vitality Project 2010 | url = http://www.cityofalbertlea.org/?page_id=4079 | archive-url = https://archive.today/20130414161709/http://www.cityofalbertlea.org/?page_id=4079 | url-status=dead | archive-date = 2013-04-14 | accessdate =  }} </ref>

On October 26, 2009, the Albert Lea City Council voted to designate the lower level of the Jacobson Apartment Building on Broadway Avenue in downtown Albert Lea as the Vitality Center. The space was refurbished and updated to accommodate the Vitality Center. The city's goal was for the Vitality Center be opened in the first part of 2010.<ref>{{Citation | last = Stultz | first = Sarah | title = Council makes Vitality Center plans official | newspaper = The Albert Lea Tribune | location = Albert Lea, Minnesota | date = 26 October 2009 | url = http://www.albertleatribune.com/news/2009/oct/26/council-makes-vitality-center-plans-official/ | accessdate =  }}{{Dead link|date=July 2025 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>

==Media coverage== The Vitality Project was featured in a variety of news outlets and publications. Among them are ''Good Morning America'',<ref> {{Citation | last = Ferran | first = Lee | title = Vitality Project: Did It Make a Town Healthier? | newspaper = ABC News | location = Albert Lea, Minnesota | date = 14 October 2009 | url = https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/VitalityProject/vitality-project-make-town-healthier/story?id=8818625 | accessdate = }} </ref> ''USA Today'',<ref name=usatoday /> ''Minneapolis Star Tribune'',<ref> {{cite news |last=Wolfe |first=Warren |title=Albert Lea healthy-living project ends - but surveys remain |newspaper=Minneapolis Star Tribune |location=Albert Lea, Minnesota |date=13 October 2009 |url=http://www.startribune.com/local/64177622.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091225203326/http://www.startribune.com/local/64177622.html |archive-date=2009-12-25}} </ref> and Minnesota Public Radio.<ref> {{Citation | last = Baier | first = Elizabeth | title = In Albert Lea, lifestyle changes lead to healthier lives | newspaper = MPR News | location = Albert Lea, Minnesota | date = 13 October 2009 | url = http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/10/13/albert-lea-healthy-living/ | accessdate = }} </ref>

The initiative collaborated with Healthways and expanded to the LA beach cities - Hermosa, Redondo, and Manhattan Beach.<ref name=":0">{{Citation |last=Improvement |first=Roundtable on Population Health |title=Lessons from the Blue Zones® |date=2015-05-08 |work=Business Engagement in Building Healthy Communities: Workshop Summary |url=https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK298903/ |access-date=2024-05-03 |publisher=National Academies Press (US) |language=en |last2=Practice |first2=Board on Population Health and Public Health |last3=Medicine |first3=Institute of}}</ref> In Iowa, a statewide initiative was implemented.<ref name=":0" />

==See also== *Longevity

==External links== * [https://www.aarp.org/health/longevity/info-01-2010/minnesota_miracle.html Vitality Project Page at AARP] * [http://www.richardleider.com/ Richard Leider]

==References== {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aarp Blue Zones Vitality Project}} Category:Blue zones Category:AARP