December 2016 Newsletter

Successful aging through individualized exercise of body, mind, & spirit.

**HOLIDAY CLOSINGS!**

EngAge Wellness will be CLOSED for Christmas on

Saturday, December 24th

Monday, December 26th

We will be open regular hours on Tuesday, December 27th.

We’ll also be CLOSED on

Saturday, December 31st

Monday, January 2nd

We will be open regular hours on Tuesday, January 3rd

.

Holiday fun at Chat Café

Friday, December 9th

for the Holiday Potluck!

Friday, December 23rd

for the OPTIONAL Gift Exchange.

If you are interested in participating please bring a wrapped

gift valued between $8.00 and $10.00

Join us for “Living with Arthritis” Presentation

Speaker: Kaleb Michaud, MD - UNMC Rheumatology

Tuesday, December 13th

4:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Held in the EngAge Wellness Multi-Purpose Room

Please call 402-552-7210 to register or sign up at the front desk. This is open to the public, your welcome to invite a friend.

Please remember to check in at the front desk each day you come in to

EngAge Wellness! This is important for many reasons including:

You getting credit for each attendance

Our overall attendance reporting

Continuation of scholarship assistance for scholarship recipients

PLEASE CHECK IN!

WEATHER CLOSINGS

Just a reminder that in the event Omaha Public Schools close, due to Inclement

weather, classes will be cancelled. However, EngAge Wellness may still be open.

Please call 402-552-7210 prior to attending, to check for sure! We will try to have

opening/closing announcements on the local news stations, but the voice message

on our answering machine will have the most updated information.

Thank you!

TEXT MESSAGE FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER

In the event that EngAge Wellness closes, due to severe Winter weather, you can receive a message via

text on your mobile phone! We just need to know who your carrier is… (AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, etc.)

So, if you wish you be alerted by text message, of important opening/closing information, please

fill out this slip & return it to the front desk. Thanks!

Last Name: ___________________________

First Name: __________________________

Cell phone #: _________________________

Carrier: ______________________________

December is National Impaired Driving Prevention Month

Recently President Obama continued a thirty-five year tradition by proclaiming December as National Impaired Driving Prevention Month. A driver commits the crime of impaired driving whenever his or her ability to safely operate a vehicle is impaired by the effects of illegal drugs, prescription or over-the-counter medications, or by having high blood alcohol concentration. However age-related medical conditions also compromise driving safety. In America, with the population aging, drivers include more persons with physiological changes of normal aging as well as diseases and disabilities common in the elderly. Driving safety is an increasingly important concern in geriatric care since visual, auditory, cognitive, and motor abilities often are impaired in elderly persons. Visual impairments are associated with accidents. For example, a five-year study found drivers with cataracts were 2.5 times more likely to be in an at-fault accident. Other ophthalmic conditions which may impair driving ability include myopia, glaucoma, and macular degeneration. According to the National Highway and Transportation Safety Administration, crash involvement rates per miles driven remain low until age 74 and increase sharply thereafter.

For drivers over

age 85, crash rates are only 1,500 per 100 million miles compared to 2,000 for drivers ages 15 to 19.

Older adults can take several steps to stay safe on the road, including:

Exercising regularly to increase strength and flexibility.

Asking your doctor or pharmacist to review medicines–both prescription and over-the

counter–to reduce side effects and interactions.

Having eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year. Wear glasses and corrective

lenses as required. If you or your parent seem to be having more trouble driving, consider enrolling in a driver rehabilitation program for a comprehensive assessment of abilities. With a doctor’s referral, Methodist Hospital offers an evaluation of driving skills and then provides immediate recommendations. Or, you can participate in a current study to investigate older driver safety. Resources:

UNMC Department of Neurological Sciences Driving Research Study, 402-559-6870

Methodist Outpatient Occupation Therapy, 402-354-4670

cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/older_adult_drivers/

ncjrs.gov/impaireddriving/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1495589/

ANSWERS are

on the back!!

EngAge Word Jumble — Created & drawn by Patrick Bartmess

The letters in the four words below have been jumbled. Arrange them in the

correct order and then use the letters that are in the circles, to solve the answer

to the cartoon caption. (These letters will need to be unscrambled, as well).

For additional info or questions, please call 402-552-7210.

FallProof™ Balance and Mobility Training

Tuesdays & Thursdays from

9:00–10:00 AM

1/24/17 — 4/13/17 (12 weeks)

Price:

EngAge Wellness Participant:

$130 Individual

Non-Participant:

$175 Individual

Note: Price includes pre & post assessments.

FallProof™ is a progressive

group class designed to

address the multiple

dimensions that contribute

to balance & mobility.

Q&A Session with Matrin Lesch

Q: How long have you been coming to EngAge Wellness?

A: I have been exercising at EngAge Wellness for 18 months.

Q: What activities do you participate in?

A: I do a cardio workout five days a week and add strength training three

days a week.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of EngAge Wellness?

A: The staff is excellent and the program participants are always friendly

and a joy to talk to.

Q: How has your motivation to exercise changed, since you started coming here?

A: I started exercising many times over the years, but would stop after a month or so. Upon the recommendation of a

good friend, I decided to give EngAge Wellness a try. The EngAge Wellness staff developed a cardio and strength

training program for my particular needs. By keeping a record of my exercise routine I can monitor my progress.

Also, I’m encouraged to exercise by seeing others who are senior to me exercising.

Q: What advice would you give other EngAge participants, to help them achieve their fitness goals?

A: Use the record sheets to show your progress. Seeing your level of fitness increase is a great motivator.

Q: How has exercise help manage any chronic conditions?

A: Exercise has reduced the amount of medication that I take and I have lost 30 pounds.

Q: Any tips for successful ageing you would like to share?

A: Stay physically (exercise) and mentally active by having many hobbies and interests.

A few facts about myself:

I have been married to my college sweetheart (Shirley) for 43 years. We have a wonderful daughter,

son-in-law, and grandson. I retired after a 40 year career teaching middle school science. I have many

hobbies and interests which include: Sailing, amateur (ham) radio, hunting, fishing, birding, model

aviation, bicycle riding, gardening, reading, construction projects, home maintenance and teaching

my grandson about the wonders of the natural world.

EXTENDED HOURS STARTING JANUARY 2017!

Starting January 2017 EngAge Wellness will be expanding our hours

of operation. Just in time for your New Years resolution!

Monday thru Friday - 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Saturdays - 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Visit us online!

www.unmc.edu/engage

Volume 5, Issue 12 | December 2016

EngAge Wellness Staff

Jeannie Hannan - PhD, ACSM-HFD

Wellness Manager

402-552-7227

Heather Shafer - M.S.

Wellness Specialist

402-552-7229

Sara Huebert - B.S.

Wellness Specialist

402-552-7229

Chris Kocol

Operations Assistant

402-552-7210

Natalie Albretsen

P.T. Student/Work Study Employee

Natalie Wheeler

P.T. Student/Work Study Employee

Dana Steffen

P.T. Student/Work Study Employee

Trent Werner

P.T. Student/Work Study Employee

Patrick Bartmess

Volunteer Newsletter Developer

Jumble answers:

Basil

Tarragon

Thyme

Fennel

Answer to Cartoon:

Ran A Tab

Please be sure that you are parking on the

South side of lot 16L (South of the

EngAge Wellness parking signs - about two

stalls South of the sidewalk).

The North side of the EngAge Wellness

parking signs is reserved for staff that are

assigned to that lot.

New yellow lines have been painted, to

clearly show the divide.

Also, all participants who are physically

able, should be parking in the lower lot

(16L - South of the yellow striped division)

and not upstairs in the clinic patient parking

lot (16U).

North

UNMC Employee

Parking

South

EngAge Wellness

Parking

Important Parking Reminders!

*New Parking Entrance*

There is a new entrance to the EngAge

Wellness parking lot off of Jones Street.

You may get to the new entrance from the

East — access Jones St. from 38th Ave. or

from the West — access Emile St. (turns to

Jones) from 41st

St. or 42nd

St.

December 7th

is the

75th

Anniversary!