This nutrition and exercise program is designed to help older adults develop a healthier lifestyle. The name Personal Actions To Health was chosen to emphasize the fact that our personal actions particularly our eating and activity behaviors have a profound effect on our health.
Personal Actions also helps point out that each of us has the ability and responsibility to take actions to maintain our health.
The program features the following four components:
Healthy Eating for Life is a nutrition education series designed to help you learn how to modify food habits to protect or improve your health and quality of life.
The Benefits of Exercise will link strength and flexibility exercises to improved personal health. Topics will include arthritis, osteoporosis, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular health and lifestyle management.
Low-Fat Cooking will feature food prepared with healthy cooking procedures.
Let's Exercise includes optional flexibility and strength-building exercises.
In addition, a Functional Fitness Assessment that measures an individual's current fitness level will be scheduled before and after the eight-week program.
Who is sponsoring this program?
Developed in cooperation with the Kansas Health Foundation and K-State Research and Extension, PATH is sponsored by a local coalition whose purpose is to promote physical fitness and nutrition education activities among older adults in Douglas County.
Agencies represented in the coalition are the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department; K-State Research and Extension-Douglas County; Douglas County Senior Services Inc.; Kansas University's Department of Health, Sport and Exercise Sciences; Lawrence Memorial Hospital; Lawrence Parks and Recreation; and Lawrence-Douglas County Housing Authority.
We also have two partnering agencies that are instrumental in the success of the program, Trinity Lutheran Church and Dillons.
So how do I find out more information about this course?
For more information, contact me at 843-7058, Shirley Grubbs of the Lawrence-Douglas County Health Department at 843-0721, Jessie Kwatamdia of Douglas County Senior Services Inc. at 842-0543 or Kathy Fode of Lawrence Parks and Recreation at 832-7930.
Is there anything else that I need to know about enrolling in the course?
Because we require a doctor's consent to participate in this eight-week course, it's important to register by Feb. 4. A registration fee of $10 is being charged.
Registration forms are available from any of the coalition agencies. Enrollment is limited so it's important to register soon.
Also, you may be interested in knowing that a PATH exercise group has evolved as a result of participation in this course. The group continues to exercise twice a week at Trinity Lutheran Church. In addition to enjoying some friendly camaraderie, participants have shown an increase in flexibility, strength, endurance, agility/balance and coordination.
Susan Krumm is an Extension agent in family and consumer sciences with K-State Research and Extension-Douglas County, 2110 Harper St. She can be reached at 843-7058.
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