September IO, 2003
Page A6
H ealth
I
F amily
Staying Centered in Golden Years
w
Seniors exercise
to remain
active,
independent
Researchers at Oregon Health &
Science University are evaluating a
seniors exercise program to deter
mine whether it allows them to re
main active and independent. The
program, called Adventures in Bet
ter Living through Exercise(ABLE),
aims to maintain and improve bal
ance in seniors, allowing them to
perform daily tasks that keep them
independent. Think First Oregon,
an OHSU program, is conducting
the research project to determine
the program 's effectiveness.
“The concept behind ABLE
Bodies is that by doing these
low-impact exercises, seniors may
be able to more easily do the
things they want to do,” explained
Sue Scott, a Portland fitness spe
cialist and designer o f the pro
gram. “ If successful, we hope this
program will lead to a sustained
or im proved quality o f life for
participants.”
The 16-week program includesa
number o f balance-improving ac
tivities, including posture and flex
ibility, strength training, aerobic
activity and practicing routine tasks
such as reaching and bending. Par
ticipants are given homework exer
1
4
1
J
Bill Schonely with 5-year-old Amelia, resident at the Center for
Medically Fragile Children at Providence Child Center.
Seniors join an OHSU exercise program to improve balance and flexibility.
cises to remain active outside of
class. Progress is measured through
interview s and physical ability
changes. Participants include resi
dents at many o f Portland’s senior
living facilities.
One participant at Portland’s
Terwilliger Plaza is 92-year-old
Hannah May. May, once an active
climber, hiked to the top ofOregon ’s
Middle Sister and Mt. Hood. Re
cently, arthritis and a back injury
have significantly reduced her
mobility and independence.
“You have to keep flexible and
agile at my age,” said May. “I’m
hoping that this program will allow
me to become more active and in
crease my balance.”
T h in k F irst d ire c to r Rae
Rosenberg said she hopes pro
grams like this have a significant
impact on May and other study
participants. Think First research
focuses on both seniors and teen
agers, populations that often suf
fer from preventable injuries.
“Our program specializes in try
ing to prevent injuries in the state’s
most susceptible populations,” said
Rosenberg.
Think First has recruited interns
to assist in teaching the weekly
classes. This aspect allows partici
pants to socialize with a younger
generation and other seniors. Past
research has shown that social ac
tivity is another important quality
o f life factor.
Blazer Legend
Supports Child Center
Bill Schonely, Portland’s leg
endary sports broadcaster and
long-time friend o f Providence
ChildCenter, has joined the board
o f directors for the Providence
Child Center Foundation.
Highly visible in Portland and
throughout the state, Schonely
regularly lends his support to a
variety o f charitable causes, in
cluding improving the lives o f
children with special needs.
Schonely also is a spokesper
son for the Center for Medically
Fragile Children at the Providence
Child Center, the Northwest’s only
nursing facility providing skilled
care exclusively for children in a
residential setting. Fifty-eight beds
are dedicated to kids needing long
term chronic care and short-term
respite, and end-of-life care.
■MMMMMNM
Minority Medical Students Start Careers With a Life Changing Experience
One hundred eight new Oregon
Health & Science University medi
cal students donned the time-hon
ored garb o f their profession — the
white coat — for the first time at a
white coat ceremony last week. A
life-changing moment that is both
solemn and joyful,’ poignant and
stunning, in each student’s mind
the white coat signifies a life de
voted to healing, science and com
passion.
Barbara Alexander, a 33-year-
old A frican American and a research
coordinator at OHSU, epitomizes
this commitment. Perhaps no one in
her class has had to overcome so
much to matriculate into medical
school. When Alexander was five
years old, her mother committed
suicide and when her father refused
to raise her, her grandparents
swooped in. Even then, she was
devoted to medicine, riding her bike
Racial & Ethnic Approaches to Community Health
A program ol the African American Health Coalition. Inc
Sponsored by the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
Wellness W ith in REACH: M in d , Body, and Soul
Activity Calendar
A ll classes are free o f charge!
U tD n fo u
77 NE boíl
Tues
W ed
T h u rs
F ri
Sitati« A/»j
S32SNWUra.
Strel thing Buch
Strength Training
Stretching Body
Strength Training
8 -9m aid 2 3pa
Brown
Sculptini
8-9u»ud2 3pn
Senfatmg
7 8 « . Ir a
Brown
7 Samit»
8 9 a . «id 2 3p« 1000-1 lOOan
Brown
Add»
Water Aerofari
la Un
Water Aerobio
CrafadAAHC
6 3 0 -7 3 0 « .
laatat AAHC
Sepie «her
583413-1850
Wer
503413-1850
P m ta P v t
700NP«1hta
Imi.
ta
Bndr Cnnrlitinnmg
730-8:30«.
7:30 8 3 0 « .
930-10:30«.
O'Hrahe
OBiarke
(bekenne
WAwCrM»
Wilkmg Grwp
Walk« Gro»
63M)73X)p»
63)0 7:00 pm
12:30«.
Nichel wn
Niche,»,
H
-J____
IrtfcCTSfM
(■eri inside IJmd
imee, inside Lind
Center m iront ni
Center m front ni
Sm)
Sem)
« ta )
9-1 Iän (farri.
Begmrag»
3S35FCI5à.
African Dance
Strength Training
■
Sfa»
WM Oats Muid
U M A "»
Orati« (ta d
Sat
Strength Trairai
woigm Irumng
9-1 Ir a (farri.
Aerofaro
Aérobic.
Aerobio
530 6 2 0s «
5 30 6 20«.
630 7 30 « .
.«16:30 7 30 « .
C - .n.
’ ItkTTW
«d 6:30 7 3 0 « .
Nicheru.
Kicker aa
WtidarTnd
42MI
UtaswwU.
Airokin
Arrufar#
Aerofaro
Aerobia
Aerofaro
6:00 7:00.«
6:00 73X1«»
6:00 7 00«.
6:00-700«*
6,3)0-7:00.«
Pierre
Arder
Pierce
U far
Pierce
Wl Maiugement
Wt Mmugenent
Wl. Management
93X1 IO Ibi.«
( nnditHming II
fondrtmntng
6:00 7.00.«
900 1000.a
Harun
Tired o f reading lame, watered down advice columns that don't
embrace or apply to multicultural populations? Searching fo r an
advice column not afraid to use black terminology, address African-
American issues and is dedicated to beingfearless and keeping it real?
Look no further because Ask Deanna! the minority advice column that
celebrates and embraces the African-American experience is coming
to The Portland Observer newspaper. Deanna is a syndicated colum
nist and form er on-air personalityfrom Los Angeles. She enjoys giving
advice on every subject under the sun and you can write to her at Ask
Deanna! PO Box 88847, Los Angeles, CA 90009 or by email at
askdeannal@yahoo.com.
My Girlfriends are Messing In My Marriage
Dear Deanna!
T wo o f my friends have been making me suspicious
about my husband because he comes home late from
work. They have been filling up my head with stuff and
have successfully led me to think h e’s having an affair.
I followed him in a different car, pushed re-dial on the
telephone and checked his pockets for phone num
bers. His behavior hasn’t changed but my friends keep
trying to convince me he's messing around. I can’t find
anything. Am I losing it? —Paranoid; Bronx, NY
Dear Paranoid,
Grow up and stop doing childish things like playing
Inspector Gadget. If your spouse doesn’t display
signsofinfidelity don’t look for any. If your man comes
home late, and he says he was working— trust him. You
are borrowing trouble and setting your marriage up for
a downfall by listening to your friends. When your
girlfriends start trying to cause drama, stop them dead
in their tracks. If they keep at it, tell them to get lost so
you can keep your marriage happy and healthy.
Dear Deanna!
My boyfriend is coming over for dinner and he
thinks I’m a good cook. I can’t cook anything except
126MEAtaù
frUtaUàta
C tadrfC M
405 NE» Aw.
through the moment he died.
Unfortunately, several years later
Alexander’sgrandmotheralsocom-
mitted suicide and Alexander found
herself in an abusive relationship
with a boyfriend who eventually
stabbed her 30 times. Alexander’s
steely will came through as she actu
ally drove herself to the hospital.
Today, she speaks at PSU on do
mestic violence and volunteers to
aid other abused women.
Ask Deanna! Is an advice column
known for its fearless approach to
reality based subjects!
KVH
M on
to Mt. Tabor Convalescent Center
where she helped nurses turn pa
tients and offered constant care.
As a high school senior, her grand
father was diagnosed with lung
cancer and Alexander cared for him
Hamburger Helper, because I eat out all the time. 1
like this guy a lot and home cooked meals are
important to him. How do I pull this off? —Signed
L C .; Kansas City, MO
Dear L.C.
It’s not wise to be deceptive in a relationship
because that causes problems later on. Before he
comes, let him know that you can cook a little, but will
have to work up to the heavy stuff. Go as fast as you
can and surf the web for recipes or ask a family
member or friend for a cooking lesson. I strongly
suggest you buy a few good ethnic cookbooks if this
fellow is a keeper. The way to a m an’s heart is
definitely through his stomach.
Dear Deanna!
My sister-in-law’s house has white carpet. When
I visit, she makes me take my shoes offbefore coming
into the house. This is uncomfortable because 1
don’t like to walk barefoot. Not only that, but my toes
are ugly and I never have time to get a pedicure
before visiting her. I miss her and want to visit more
often, but I have problems with her shoe rule. --
Shoeless Dilemma; Los Angeles, CA
Help us Prevent cáncer !
Hau.
•’ Must be 21 or older Io participate Please check with AAHC before showing up to the first class
503-413-1850 Please receive approval from your doctor before beginning exercise class
V\fe need W0I116II to take
part in a bl*68St cancer
TO find out if you or
someone you know
may qualify call:
research study using an
investigational medication to
503-216-8267
800-677-6752
find out its effectiveness and
American Health Coalition, Inc.
AAHC I African
2800 N. Vancouver Ave , Suite 100 • Portland OR 97227 • Phone 503-413-1850
safety in the prevention o f
E-mail kdempseyQaahc-portland org • Web www aahc-portland org
(x-66267)
wwwxropor.org
post-menopausal breast
cancer. This im portant study
is supported by the National
Wt
Cancer Institute
Advertise in ,,H'Portland Observer call 503.2SS.0033
or email: uds^portlandobscrvcr.cum
IA I a I I a a b I V a
im
U a I m I
WB NBBQ TOUi IfBly!
t
Real People, Real Advice
« 3 ^
Dear Shoeless,
Let your sister-in-law know
your feelings and why y o u ’re un
com fortable. If y o u ’re still not
allow ed to w ear your shoes, su g
gest buying a pair o f slippers that
w ill only be w orn w hile visiting.
D o n 't lose a fam ily relationship
behind a rug. Life is too short.
Suck it up. deal w ith the shoe rule
and keep it moving.
A sk D eanna is written by
Deanna M. Write Ask Deanna!
O r se n d an
E m a il to
a sk d e a n n a l@ y a h o o .c o m or
write: Deanna M, P.O. Box
88847, Los Angeles, CA 90009