Center for Excellence in Aging Services/Research Foundation of SUNY

The Active Choices program is a telephone-assisted counseling program developed by the Stanford Prevention Research Center, which has been found to increase physical activity among older adults (ages 50 years and older).

Under the project, “Cost-effective Delivery of an Active Choices Health Promotion Program,” the Center for Excellence in Aging Services (the Center) at the Research Foundation of the State University of Albany implemented a volunteer-led Active Choices program for seniors in four New York State communities.

The Center for Excellence in Aging Services develops, tests, and implements innovative practices and policies that address the needs of aging persons, their families, and caregivers. This project proposes to adapt the evidence-based health promotion program, Active Choices—initially developed by the Stanford Prevention Research Center—for use across New York State.

Active Choices is a personal, in-person, and telephone support program that encourages regular physical activity. The project will redesign available materials to move the program from a staff-based to a volunteer-based program and embed Active Choices within the State’s aging network, as a service for frail elders and their caregivers. This project will involve 500 participants and 100 volunteer coaches. Upon completion of the grant, a dissemination toolkit and Web site will be created, 20 trainers will be available throughout the State, and all county offices for aging and other entities serving elders will have received information on the program and how to implement it.