organizations, and other

activities. As large numbers

of baby -boomers reach

retirement age, many com-

munities have increased

their efforts to provide

meaningful opportunities

for older adults-many

whom remain physically

and socially active through

their 80s and beyond. Cur-

rent trends show that peo-

ple over age 60 account for

an ever-growing percentage

of participants in commu-

nity service positions, faith-

based organizations, online

social networking as well as

arts and recreational

groups.

Lifelong participation in

social, creative, and physi-

cal activities has proven

continued on page 2

May is Older Americans

Month, a perfect opportu-

nity to show our apprecia-

tion for the older adults in

our community. Since

1963, communities across

the nation have joined in

the annual commemoration

of Older Americans Month

– a proud tradition that

shows our nation’s com-

mitment to celebrating the

contributions and achieve-

ments of older Americans.

The theme for Older

Americans Month 2012 is -

Never Too Old to Play! -

puts a spotlight on the

important role older adults

play in sharing their experi-

ence, wisdom, and under-

standing, and passing on

that knowledge to other

generations in a variety of

significant ways. This year’s

celebrations will recognize

the value that older adults

continue to bring to our

communities through spir-

ited participation in social

and faith groups, service

May is National Older Americans Month!

Inside this issue:

Older Americans cont- 2

Health Fairs 2

My Medicare Matters 2

Savvy Senior 3

Answers on Aging 4

Take Time Texas 5

Senior Corps 6

Concho Valley Area Agency on Aging

The Silver Bulletin

Special points of inter-

est:

May 2nd: Older Americans

Month Kickoff

May 7th: Concho Valley RSVP

Volunteer Fair

May 21st: Health and Infor-

mation Fair, Santa Fe Cross-

ing, Station 618

May 24th: Health and Infor-

mation Fair, Stephens Central

Library

May 27th: Senior Night with

the Colts

May 30th: National Senior

Health and Fitness Day

MAY / JUNE 2012 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

“Never too old

To play”

Assessment Training: Nurses Caring for Older Adults

The seed was planted for

this workshop after the

Concho Valley Area

A g e n c y o n A g i n g

(CVAAA) Staff realized

that many conversations

between the Ombudsman

Program, the Caregiver

Program, Ms. Mona Daw-

son, M.S.N., R.N., GNP-C,

ASU Caregiver Research

Institute, healthcare provid-

ers and those we serve,

often would center on ob-

taining accurate and timely

health assessments.

There have been cases,

where in fact, an inaccurate

assessment has lead to

devastation for clients and

hardship for their families.

While CVAAA does not

have a role as a healthcare

provider, we are responsi-

ble to be advocates and

facilitators for quality of

life and quality of care for

the older citizens we serve.

By facilitating this inde-

pendent assessment train-

ing, the CVAAA can re-

spond to requests by

healthcare professionals,

clients, their families and

caregivers.

Objectives for this work-

shop include identifying

the importance of func-

tional assessment in the

care of the older adult and

frail elders; the effect of age

and the changes as they

relate to physical assess-

ment; and defining quality

of life for the older adult.

The overwhelming re-

sponse to the initial work-

shop in January has identi-

fied the need to offer it

once again. To register for

the May 1st training please

contact Elizabeth Little at

325-223-5704 or toll free 1-

877-944-9666.

Here are 5 things you can do on the site today:

1. Learn how to get Medicare for the first time.

2. Discover ways to stay healthy.

3. Get tips for selecting drug coverage.

4. See how to afford Medi-care.

5. Get your Medicare question answered.

The AAA will be offering

Ask anyone that is approaching 65 and they will tell you it can really be confusing to under-stand Medicare and all that it has to offer. Fortunately, there are resources accessible to anyone who has a phone or a computer.

My Medicare Matters is a free website that offers people with Medicare and their family mem-bers easy-to-understand infor-mation about joining Medicare and the services they can receive.

“Welcome to Medicare’ and “Medicare & You” presenta-tions in July. Easy to understand publications are available upon request.

For more information or to set up an appointment to visit with a Benefits Counselor, please contact the Area Agency on Aging (AAA) at 325-223-5704 or toll free at 1-877-944-9666.

cont. Older Americans Month

My Medicare Matters

of their services available. The

fair begins at 2:30pm at the

Santa Fe Crossing, Station 618,

702 S. Chadbourne.

May 24th: There is going to be a

whole lot of shaking going on!

Stephanie Barnes will be show-

casing “Senior Zumba” begin-

ning at 9:30am. You will not

want to miss this opportunity to

experience an exhilarating exer-

cise. Beverlee Williams, WUMC

nurse will present “Managing

Blood Pressure”. Exhibitors and

blood pressure screening will

also be available. This fair is

located at the Stephens Central

Library, Community Room from

9:30am—noon.

Contact the Area Agency on

Aging at 325-223-5704 or toll

free 1-877-944-9666 for more

information.

Health and Information Fairs to Address Senior Issues Weather, Diabetes, Blood Pres-

sure and Senior Fitness are just a

few of the topics that will be

addressed in upcoming Health

Fairs in the month of May.

May 21st: Jodi Sobotka, Adult

Protective Services will present,

“How Weather Affects the Eld-

erly”. Beverlee Williams, Wesley

United Methodist Nurse, will

provide education on “Diabetes

Management”. Exhibitors will

be on hand to inform attendees

health benefits, including main-

taining mobility, muscle mass,

and cognitive abilities. But older

adults are not the only ones who

benefit from their engagement in

community life. Studies show

their interactions with families,

friends, and neighbors across

generations enrich the lives of

everyone involved. Young peo-

ple who have significant rela-

tionships with a grandparent or

elder report that these relation-

ships helped shape their values,

goals, and life choices, and gave

them a sense of identity and

roots.

Older Americans Month is a

great opportunity to show appre-

ciation for some of our most

beloved citizens. Concho Valley

RSVP, City of San Angelo-

Senior Services Division, and the

Area Agency on Aging of the

Concho Valley Council of Gov-

ernments are joining in the na-

tional celebration by organizing

activities and events to promote

intergenerational engagement

and recreation throughout the

month of May

Join us for the Older Americans

Month Kickoff May 2nd at the

Area Agency on Aging, 2801 W.

Loop 306, in San Angelo.

Weather permitting the hot air

balloon will lift off at 10am, free

hotdogs for the first 150 seniors,

balloon release and entertain-

ment. 2-1-1 Texas of the Con-

cho Valley ‘s Information Fair

begins at 11am. See you there!

Page 2 THE SILVER BULLETIN

The

weather

forecast may be a

strong predicator

on how you are

going to feel…

Chilly, damp weather

stiffens joints…

Extreme

temperatures

increase heart risk...

Financial scams targeting seniors

have become so prevalent that

they are now considered “The

Crime of the 21st Century”.

Why? Because seniors are

thought to have a significant

amount of money sitting in there

accounts. Financial scams also

often go unreported or can be

difficult to prosecute, so the are

considered a “low-risk” crime.

However, they are devastating to

many older adults and can leave

them in a very vulnerable and

unrecoverable position.

If you lose money in you older

years, there are very few options

for earning new funds to replace

what was lost. Individuals aged

60+ represent 20% of the U.S.

population, and that percentage

will increase rapidly for the next

few decades. Individuals aged

85+ are the fastest-growing

population group-and they are

also at the highest risk of abuse.

Older adults control the majority

of personal wealth in the coun-

try. Both professional con artists

and seniors’ own younger family

members are aware of that

wealth and seniors’ vulnerabili-

ties. Low-income older adults

are also at risk of financial abuse.

It is not just wealthy seniors who

are targeted.

Top 10 Scams Targeting Seniors:

Health Care/Medicare/

Health Insurance Fraud;

Counterfeit Prescription

Drugs; Funeral & Cemetery

Scams; Fraudulent Anti-

Aging Products; Telemar-

keting; Internet Fraud; In-

vestment Schemes; Home-

owner / Reverse Mortgage

Scams; Sweepstakes & Lot-

tery Scams; and the Grand-

parent Scam. Contact the

Area Agency on Aging of

the Concho Valley Council

of Governments to speak

with a counselor if you feel

you have been “scammed”.

seniors about good money skills.

The modules help teach older

adults how to budget, avoid

financial scams, and apply for

benefits that can help them re-

main healthy and independent.

During the month of June, the

Concho Valley Area Agency on

Aging will be hosting “ Savvy

Saving Seniors” and “You Gave,

Now Save” presentations. Bene-

fits Counselors will be on hand

to provide application assistance

for eligible seniors. All materials

are provided with light refresh-

Approximately one-third of sen-

ior households has no money

left at the end of each month or

is in debt after meeting basic

expenses. The average credit

card debt among adults aged

65+ is over $10,000, and 14% of

seniors retire with a negative net

worth.

With support from the Bank of

America Charitable Foundation,

the National Council On Aging

(NCoA) has developed the

Savvy Saving Seniors™ toolkits

to help professionals educate

ment. Please contact the AAA at

325-223-5704 or toll free 1-877-

944-9666 to reserve your seat or

for more information.

June 7th @ 10am

“You Gave, Now Save”

June 14th @ 10am

“Savvy Saving Seniors”

Scams and You: Be a “Savvy Senior”

Living on a Fixed Income

Grow. The campaign will provide

information and access to af-

fordable, safe and convenient

Treasury savings options that

can help people take control of

their future.

The Treasury Department has

created a user-friendly website,

offering turnkey resources for

organizations so they can edu-

cate their community members

and other stakeholders on ideas

of for growing their savings.

Follow the campaign on Twitter

at https://twitter.com/#!/

ReadySaveGrow.

The address for the website is:

w w w . t r e a s u r y d i r e c t . g o v /

readysavegrow.

Treasury Department: Grow Your Savings

With millions of people indicat-

ing they need a safe and conven-

ient way to save for their long-

term goals, the US Department

of the Treasury announced a

new public initiative, Ready, Save,

Page 3 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

Top 8 Ways to

Protect Yourself:

1. Be aware that you are

at risk from strangers-

and from those closest

to you.

2. Do n o t i so l a t e

yourself-stay involved

with friend, family,

a n d c o m m u n i t y

activities!

3. Always tell solicitors:

“I never buy from (or

give to ) anyone who

calls or visits me

unannounced. Send

me something in

writing.”

4. Shred all receipts with

your credit card

number.

5. Sign up for the “Do

N o t C a l l ” l i s t

(www.donotcall.gov)

and take yourself off

multiple mailing list.

6. Use direct deposit for

benefits checks to

prevent checks from

being stolen.

7. Never give your credit

card, banking, Social

Security, Medicare, or

o t h e r p e r s o n a l

information over the

phone unless you

initiated the call.

8. Be skeptical of all

unexpected offers and

thoroughly do your

research.

home and assisted living facili-

ties, advocating for quality of

care, quality of life and ensuring

the rights of the residents are

protected.

Training and materials are pro-

vided throughout the year. Vol-

unteers are needed in San An-

gelo and many of the counties

in the Concho Valley. Region.

If you are looking for an oppor-

tunity to make a difference in the

Ombudsman means citizen rep-

resentative. They investigate

reported complaints, report find-

ings and help achieve resolution.

They can help one person re-

solve a problem, address issues

that affect several residents, or

work to change a systematic

problem.

Nursing home ombudsmen visit

persons residing in nursing

lives of older citizens, this is the

place for you. For more infor-

mation, contact Karen Cline,

Managing Local Ombudsman at

325-223-5704 or toll free 1-877-

944-9666.

Answers on Aging: Answer Van Calendar

Texas Long Term Care Ombudsman Program

Committee of the Concho Valley

Council of Governments. Mem-

bers include: Brigitte Rogers,

Madam Chair, Kathy Aycock,

Vickie Bledsoe, Mary Cortinas,

C.J. Brisbin, Lynne English,

Maggie Farrington, Robert

Gauer, Connie Glass, Mary Kay

Henson, Louise Jacobson,

LeeRoy Kiesling, Mike Mat-

thews, Wayne Merrill, Deborah

Palmer. Mary Roden, Gary

R o m m e l f a n g e r , D o l o r e s

Schwertner, Bill Sohn, Ralph

Teague, Tim Vasquez and Mi-

guel Villanueva.

The next regularly scheduled

meeting of the Concho Valley

Regional Advisory Council on

Aging will be May 23, 2012 at

10am. This meeting is held at the

Concho Valley Council of Gov-

ernments, 2801 W. Loop 306,

Ste A. and is open to the public.

Regional Advisory Council on Aging (RACOA) The creation of the Concho

Valley Regional Advisory Com-

mittee on Aging was authorized

by the Concho Valley Council of

Governments on January 9,

1975. Under the Older Ameri-

cans Act of 1965, as amended,

and authorized under Section

304© of Public Law 93-9 and

the Domestic Volunteer Act of

1973 (Public Law 93-113), as

amended. This Committee is

required to advise the Executive

“Answers on Aging” is designed to provide information about services and programs available to older persons. The Answer Van visits each county monthly usually at the senior center to share information and also pro-vide the opportunity to assist individuals. Listed are the sched-uled visits for May/June 2012.

May:

1st: Sutton County Sr. Center

2nd: Older American’s Month Kickoff– San Angelo

4th: Kimble County Sr. Center

8th: Menard Community Center

9th: Eden Housing Authority

15th: McCulloch County

16th: Reagan and Irion Counties

17th: Mason County

21st: Bronte, Robert Lee

22nd: Sterling County

24th: Crockett County

28th: Schleicher County

June:

5th: Sutton County Sr. Center

6th: Kimble County Sr. Center

12th:Menard Community Center

13th: Eden Housing Authority

18th: Bronte, Robert Lee

19th: McCulloch County

20th: Reagan, Irion

Counties

21st: Mason County

25th: Schleicher County

26th: Sterling County

28th: Crockett County

Page 4 THE SILVER BULLETIN

Helen Keller on

Hope:

“ Once I knew only

darkness and

stillness. My life

was without past

or future. But a

little word from

the fingers of

another fell into

my hand that

clutched at

emptiness and my

heart leaped to

the rapture of

living”

There are more than 2.7 million

caregivers in Texas. If you care

for someone of any age with a

chronic with a chronic medical

condition or disability, help is

available through the Texas Life-

span Respite Care Program and

the Texas Respite Coordination

Center.

The Take Time Texas website

(taketimetexas.org) will pro-

vide you with:

1. Statewide database of res-

pite providers that caregiv-

ers can search to find non-

profit, commercial, faith-

based, and governmental

respite providers.

2. Educational materials and

online information and

resources to help caregivers

and providers resolve issues

and find information about

caregiving.

3. Resources to help respite

providers including out-

reach materials, information

on best practices and train-

ing tools.

Take Time Texas are con-

ducting an anonymous survey of

caregivers to assess their knowl-

edge of respite services, access to

respite, use of services and gaps

in need related to caregiving and

respite..

They are seeking community

input from people who help take

care of a family member or

friend. Your input will help

HHSC find ways to better serve

caregivers and their families.

The more caregivers that partici-

pate in this survey the more

information will be gathered.

The survey can be taken in Span-

ish or English.

For more information call the

Concho Valley Area Agency on

Aging at 325-223-5704 or toll

free 1-877-944-9666.

said. The survey is the first na-

tional assessment tool for col-

lecting information on patient

experience and will enable valid

comparisons among all home

health agencies.” A prospective

patient or caregiver will be able

to review and compare feedback

from other patients about Medi-

care-certified home health agen-

cies’ care of patients, communi-

cation between providers and

patients, as well as the specific

care issues identified on the

Results from the Centers for

Medicare & Medicaid Ser-

vices’ (CMS) national survey that

asks patients about their experi-

ences with Medicare-certified

home health agencies are now

available on the agency’s Quality

Care Finder website. “CMS is

doing all it can to help consum-

ers make better, educated

choices, and help them find the

home health agency that best

meets their needs,” Acting Ad-

ministrator Marilyn Travenner

survey. Ratings include an over-

all rating of home health care

and a patient’s willingness to

recommend the agency to some-

one else. The survey results are

designed to create incentives for

home health agencies to improve

quality of care, as well as to give

patients additional information

so they are aware of the types of

care they will receive from a

particular agency.

www.medicare.gov/quality-care-

finder

Care, Support, and Community for Texas Caregivers

Home Health Compare

View falls as controllable

Set goals for increasing

activity

Make changes to reduce fall

risk at home

Exercise to increase

strength and balance

If you are:

Concerned about falls

Have had falls in the past

Restrict activities because of

concerns about falling

Are interested in improving

flexibility, balance and

strength

Are age 60 or older, ambu-

latory and able to problem

solve

Call the Area Agency on Aging

for more information on classes

being offered in your area.

A Matter of Balance

Many older adults experience a

fear of falling. People who de-

velop this fear often limit their

activities, which can result in

physical weakness, making the

risk of falling even greater. A

Matter of Balance: Managing

Concerns About Falls, is a pro-

gram designed to reduce the fear

of falling and increase activity

levels among older adults. Dur-

ing the class, participants learn to

Page 5 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

“I am already

n o t i c i n g a

difference in my

physical being.

I’m sure I’m a

little more

mobile than I

had been, and

p l a n t o

continue these

e x e r c i s e s .

Hopefully– I

will be jumping

over the moon

soon!”

vital agencies in the community. The key thing to remember about 2-1-1 is that even if you are not a person in need of assis-tance, this is a great resource to learn about so that you can have a place to direct individuals that you may encounter who are asking you for assistance: a par-ent, friend, neighbor, even a stranger. At this fair, the public is invited to come learn and visit with representatives from agen-

2-1-1 Texas of the Concho Val-ley invites you to attend its up-coming Information Fair on Wednesday, May 2nd, 2012. 2-1-1 Texas is a program that connects individuals with services in their communities, simply by dialing 2-1-1, free of charge. The pur-pose of this Information Fair is to bring the services to the com-munity; give you a chance to learn first-hand about the bene-fits of 2-1-1 Texas and other

cies that 2-1-1 Texas of the Con-cho Valley frequently refers call-ers to for various needs.

Foster Grandparent Program

2-1-1 Texas of the Concho Valley

Senior Companion Program

Page 6 THE SILVER BULLETIN

Senior Corps

connects today’s

55+ with the

people and

organizations

that need them

most. We help

them become

mentors, coaches

or companions to

people in need, or

contribute their

job skills and

expertise to

community

projects and

organizations.

For those that are not so familiar with our program, Foster Grand-parents of the Concho Valley, volunteer seniors receive a bi-monthly stipend for going to vari-ous sites in the Concho Valley and acting as mentors to children. Volunteers are there to provide mentoring, friendship and help with educational goals. Our pro-gram requires that our volunteers work a minimum of 15 hours a week, but may work up to 40 hours a week if they choose to do so. Our list of counties served in-cludes: Coke, Concho, Crockett, Irion, Kimble, Mason, Menard, McCulloch, Reagan, Runnels, Schleicher, Sterling, Sutton, and Tom Green. What qualifications does a Foster Grandparent need to

apply? He or she must be 55 years of age or older, meet income eligi-bility guidelines, and thrive on direct interaction with children, and believe they can make a differ-ence in their lives. Volunteers:

Are reimbursed mileage to and from their worksites

Receive an annual physical at no cost

Benefits include paid vaca-tion, holidays, sick days

Stipends are paid twice monthly (the income volun-teers receive for being in the Foster Grandparent Program will not affect any govern-ment benefits they receive such as Social Security In-come or Food Stamps.

Paid meals

Training Volunteers also participate in monthly trainings (inservices). Worksites include Elementary schools, churches, Boys & Girls clubs and libraries. If you or anyone you know would like more information about becoming a Foster Grandparent Volunteer, please contact Lindsey Elliott, Foster Grandparent Director @ 325-223-5704.

If you are 55 or older and want to share your experience and compas-sion, you have what it takes to be a Senior Companion. By becoming a companion to a frail person, you help that person stay in their won home. Whether you are giving families or professional caregivers much-needed time off, running errands, or simply being a friend, you’ll make a differ-ence that strengthens and helps pre-serve an individual's independence. And you’ll join thousands of others to help control the rising costs of health

care. Senior Companions serve up to 40 hours per week earning a tax-free, hourly stipend. With Senior Companions, you will receive pre-service orienta-tion, training from the organiza-tion where you serve, and sup-plemental accidental and liability insurance while on duty. Remember, when you volunteer you are not just helping others…you are helping yourself. Volun-teering leads to new discoveries and new friends. Plus, studies

show that volunteering helps you live longer and promotes a positive outlook on life. If you or anyone you know would like more information on the Senior Companion Pro-gram, please contact Sylvia Nombrano at 325-223-5704.

remain in the office are assisting

clients. “The agency has received

up to 40 calls in one day, with

those callers requesting ser-

vices”, staff have reported.

This newsletter was developed in

part, to provide information to

keep seniors informed of current

issues, opportunities and activi-

ties The Silver Bulletin will be

published every two months in

an effort to provide information

about presentations/trainings for

both professionals and consum-

ers, outreach activities and “hot-

The Concho Valley Area Agency

Aging serves all thirteen coun-

ties of the Concho Valley Re-

gion. A trip to the rural counties

to provide services can be any-

where from 45 minutes to two

hours one way travel time for

AAA staff.

Because of this, we encourage

persons to call for an appoint-

ment. Most days 50% of the

staff are in the city or counties,

providing presentations, meeting

with community partners and

doing home visits. Staff that

topics" affecting the aging com-

munity. We are in the process of

updating our website., adding a

calendar of events, the Silver

Bulletin and links to various

resources. A frequently asked

questions (FAQ) page will also

be developed for the areas in

Benefits, Caregiving, Advocacy

and Aging Issues..

It would also be nice to know

how we are doing by returning

any surveys mailed to clients for

services received. Thank you in

advance for you input.

Faith in Action

The first pitch will be thrown by a 98 year old gentleman that will have 4-generations of family members in attendance. Faith in Action has prepared “Evergreen Stories” highlighting both volunteers, clients and pro-fessionals on “What Faith in Action means to me?” A cruise and rounds of golf are scheduled to be given away during the eve-ning.

Faith in Action relies on dona-tions through coalition partners and fundraising to support the program. If you are needing to purchase tickets (remember sen-iors in free) Faith in Action is selling Colts tickets at $6 each with a portion of the ticket sales going to providing services for seniors. Call the Area Agency on Aging at 325-223-5704 or toll free 1-877-944-9666 for info.

Senior Night With the Colts

What better way to begin the final week of celebrating Na-tional Older Ameri-

cans Month “Never Too Old to Play” than attending a baseball game? The San Angelo Colts and Faith in Action have organized an evening of fun and fellow-ship. All seniors age 60+ will get in free, with the first 500 seniors receiving Colts/FIA baseballs.

Page 7 VOLUME 1, ISSUE 1

Don’t forget the

Concho Valley RSVP

Volunteer Fair at

Station 618 on May

7th.

Potential volunteers

will have the

opportunity to visit

with organizations

about their services

to the community and

how with a combined

effort the needs of

those being served

can be met.

Remember, “you are

never to old to play,

learn and serve”’

Dolores Schwertner,

Concho Valley RSVP

Director

Faith in Action Volunteers are at times the only “thread of hope” for many frail, elderly living in San Angelo. Lynn Carlson, FIA Manager has reported an in-crease of 80-90 year old clients requiring assistance getting to medical appointments, shopping, and telephone reassurance calls. Although Faith in Action volun-teers provide other services, those mentioned are the three most requested. Studies have shown depression in the elderly is on the rise. Many are isolated, have out-lived spouses, children, other relatives and friends. It is a huge comfort for persons receiving daily tele-phone reassurance calls from volunteers. The calls between a

volunteer and client may start with a daily check to ensure everything is fine, but quickly evolves into a lasting friend-ship. No other volunteer group or service provider will provide door-to-door assistance to medical appointments. Clients requesting a volunteer will re-ceive not only transport to and from the appointment, but will be accompanied until their return home. As with all organizations fortu-nate to have volunteers, Faith in Action is always in need of additional volunteers. “You may think you are not able to serve, but everyone can in some capacity”.

Emma Dyer, states “I do it because I like people. We all have something in common with each other. I like to know that I can still volunteer; to be useful and give back. I am not physically able to do anything but call. I know it is a very important service as my daughter reminds me that for some people, this is only time their phone will ring for the day.” More information about Faith in Action can be obtained by calling the Area Agency on Aging at 325-223-5704.

Important Information: What you should know...

risk of falling. Myth 4: It’s too

late. I am already too old to

start exercising. Fact: You are

never too old to exercise! If

you’ve never exercised before, or

it’s been awhile, start with light

walking and other gentle activi-

ties..

Myth 5: I’m disabled. I can’t

exercise sitting down. Fact:

Chair-bound people face special

challenges but can lift light

weights, stretch, and do chair

aerobics to increase range of

motion, improve muscle tone,

and promote cardiovascular

health.

Consider trying different meth-

ods of staying active If you are

looking for another way to re-

duce stress, consider tai chi (Tie-

chee). Tai Chi is sometimes de-

scribed as “meditation in mo-

tion” because it promotes seren-

ity through gentle movements

connecting the mind and body.

Originally developed in ancient

China for self-defense, tai chi

evolved into a graceful form of

exercise that’s now used for

Myth 1: There is no

point in exercising. I

am going to get old

anyway. Fact: Exer-

cise and strength train-

ing helps you look and

feel younger and stay

active longer. Regular physical

activity lowers your risk for a

variety of conditions, including

Alzheimer’s and dementia, heart

disease, diabetes, colon cancer,

high blood pressure and obesity.

Myth 2. Elderly people should

not exercise. They should

save their strength and rest.

Fact: Research shows that a sed-

entary lifestyle is unhealthy for

the elderly. Period. Inactivity

often causes seniors to lose the

ability to do things on their own

and can lead to more hospitaliza-

tions, doctor visits, and use of

medication for illnesses.

Myth 3: Exercise puts me at

risk for falling down. Fact:

Regular exercise, by building

strength and stamina, prevents

loss of bone mass and improves

balance, actually reducing your

stress reduction and to help with

a variety of other health condi-

tions. Tai-chi for Arthritis is

quite popular throughout the

nation.

Senior Zumba is designed espe-

cially for older people who want

to stay fit with the latest rage but

cannot keep up with the high

impact exercise of regular

Zumba. At this class you will

learn dances such as salsa and hip

hop but it will be slower and not

so bone jarring.

Sit and Be Fit improves the

health and wellness of older

adults, seniors and kids, as well as

physically limited individuals and

those managing chronic condi-

tions and chronic pain. Sit and

Fit workouts are designed to be

done from both a sitting position

and a standing workout position.

This program is designed for

senior fitness and rehabilitation.

Information obtain through the Mayo

Clinic and helpguide.org .

5– Myths About Exercise and Older Adults

Our Mission is to be this area’s visible leader and advocate in facilitating those

supportive services and opportunities that enable all older citizens to be able to

live dignified, independent and productive lives. Phone: 325-223-5704 Toll free: 1-877-944-9666 Fax: 325-223-8233

Counties served:

coke

concho

crockett

irion

kimble

mason

mcculloch

menard

reagan

schleicher

sterling

sutton

tom green

We are on the

web:

www.cvcog.org

/aaa

2801 W. Loop 306, Ste. A P.O. Box 60050 San Angelo, TX 76906