LIFESTYLES
WEEKEND, FEBRUARY 28-MARCH 1, 2015
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
Fitness director Amy Smith shows Beckie Roberts, 68, of Pendleton how to use an exercise machine on Wednesday while working out in a senior fitness class
at the Roundup Athletic Club in Pendleton.
Seniors
on the
move
Staying healthy both
mentally and physically
By TAMMY MALGESINI
East Oregonian
Not every activity offered at
Sun Terrace is Ellen Nash’s cup
of tea, but when it comes to bingo
and Yahtzee, she’s there.
Nash, 91, has lived at the as-
sisted living facility for nearly six
years. She may not participate
in every game offered in the rec
room, but she said she’s grateful
for the variety of activities avail-
able and will attend to observe
and be around others.
“The main thing is to get out of
my room so I don’t stay there all
the time,” she said.
Social, mental or physical
stimulation are often neglected as
people enter old age, but are cru-
cial in a person’s overall health.
Annette Powell, the Sun Ter-
race activities director, provides
an array of games, events or so-
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
cial interactions each day. Even
playing bingo, she said, can pro- Margaret Haugeberg, 101, of Hermiston listens for her bingo numbers while playing recently at
vide a window to what’s going on Sun Terrace Retirement and Assisted Living Community in Hermiston.
with the residents.
“There’s evidence that
“We watch for loss of func-
tion, memory issues or confu-
these activities help
sion,” Powell said.
more
by not just shut-
Bob Clark, a licensed clinical
social worker, said in addition to
ting down the brain
physical exercise, activities that
and watching TV.”
use thinking and memory are
helpful for older adults — includ-
— Bob Clark, licensed
ing bingo, crossword puzzles, Su-
clinical social worker
doku and reading.
“There’s evidence that these people getting out, maintaining
activities help more by not just social contacts and being in-
shutting down the brain and volved in service clubs, church
watching TV,” Clark said.
meetings and activity groups.
The Pendleton social work-
Dena Gutterud, general man-
er served as a consultant for 15 ager at the Roundup Athletic
years at a nursing home in Hep- Club, and Amy Smith, a personal
pner. One of the most important trainer, said during the 30 years
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
aspects, Clark said, was having WKH\¶YH EHHQ DI¿OLDWHG ZLWK WKH Activities director Annette Powell calls bingo numbers recent-
ly at the Sun Terrace Retirement and Assisted Living Commu-
nity in Hermiston.
Staff photo by E.J. Harris
Clyde Douglas, 74, of Pendleton uses an ab machine Wednesday while working out in a senior
fitness class at the Roundup Athletic Club in Pendleton.
club they have noticed more par-
ticipation by older members.
While there have always been
classes available for seniors, Gut-
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into their workout schedules —
including aquatics, which histor-
ically has been popular with the
older crowd.
Smith and front desk manager
Tasha Forkner said they see the
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that occur by coming to the club.
“We have a lot of little aqua la-
dies and they call it a little social
hour — they drink their free cof-
fee and work out,” Forkner said.
“The whole snack bar area is
jammed full. They aren’t just tak-
ing off and leaving,” Smith added.
“They are developing friendships
that continues outside the club.”
Smith said she meets individ-
ually with new members and will
evaluate their needs. One of the
main focuses for older members
is getting them involved with
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like taking items out of the cup-
board, picking up a bag of grocer-
ies or bending over to feed the cat.
“Anything that helps you get
stronger helps you throughout
the day for the things you want to
do,” Smith said.
Clark endorses maintaining
physical activity as well — wheth-
er it’s walking, riding an exercise
bike or just stretching and moving
around. Maintaining muscle tone,
he said, can prevent accidents.
Clark said social interactions
and physical activities continue to
be important as people age.
“There can be a tendency to
become isolated and just stay
home,” he said. “Not only does
that affect mental function, it can
contribute to depression in the el-
derly.”
———
Contact Community Editor
Tammy Malgesini at tmalgesi-
ni@eastoregonian.com or 541-
564-4539.
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