January 2018 Newsletter

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

HOLIDAY CLOSING!

EngAge Wellness will be CLOSED New Year’s day:

Monday, January 1st

We will be OPEN regular hours on Saturday, December 30th and

Tuesday, January 2nd

. Happy New Year!!

WELCOME!

A warm welcome to new participants that joined our

EngAge Wellness family in the month of December:

Sandra W., Diane & Gary B., Debbie W., Eileen S., Jerry B., Deborah

& Mark C., Carolyn & Harry T., Deborah & Tim D., Jerry S.

We are honored to be part of your wellness journey!

“New Year – a new chapter, new verse, or just the same old story? Ultimately we write it.

The choice is ours.” - Alex Morritt

“Cheers to a new year and another chance for us to get it right.” - Oprah Winfrey

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any

other.” - Abraham Lincoln

Wishing you a great, prosperous, blissful, healthy, bright, delightful, energetic, and extremely Happy New Year! Here’s to a wonderful 2018. Let’s do this!

Sincerely,

Jeannie, Heather, Sara, & Chris

Last opportunity to register for the first sessions of the 2018 Evidence-Based Programs. There is a fee

to participate in the programs with the exception of Living Well, which is free. Please sign up at the front

desk. Also, these programs are open to the public. If you know of someone that may be interested,

please have them call 402-552-7210 for additional information. Due to popular demand, an extra session

of FallProof™ has been added. (But space is limited, so there’s a waiting list).

Fees for these programs are reduced by $75.00, because of generous donations to our 2016 fundraisers!

Diabetes Prevention Program: Tuesdays, Jan. 16th

, 9:00 - 10:00am, for 16 weeks & once a month

for 8 months

The Diabetes Prevention Program is a 1-year program designed to help you make lifestyle changes

to improve your overall health and reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

FallProof™ Balance & Mobility Training: Mondays & Wednesdays, Jan. 17th

- Apr. 9th

, 1:30 -

2:30pm (OR) Tuesdays & Thursdays, Jan. 18th

- Apr. 10th

, 1:30 - 2:30pm

FallProof™ is a 12-week (2 classes per week) progressive program designed to address the multiple

dimensions that contribute to balance and mobility.

Living Well—Take Control of Your Health: Thursdays, Jan. 18th

- Feb. 22nd

, 8:00 - 10:00am

Living Well is a FREE 6-week evidence based workshop to improve self-management of chronic disease

and your daily health.

Fit & Strong!: Mondays, Wednesdays, & Fridays, Jan. 22nd

- Mar. 16th

, 7:00 - 8:30am

Fit & Strong! Is an 8-week (3 classes per week) award winning exercise/behavior change program for

older adults with lower extremity osteoarthritis.

Congratulations to the following participants who have achieved special

attendance milestones at EngAge Wellness (as of November 30th, 2017).

Nikki Z. - 1,250 Ron B. - 600 Denise W. - 300 Barb G. - 100

Jim N. - 1,000 Jack K. - 600 Marge G. - 200 Judy P. - 100

Barbara P. - 800 Mary Ellen D. - 500 Dave M. - 200 Ruth F. - 100

Kathleen M. - 800 Tabe D. - 500 Liz W. - 200 John B. - 100

Dave R. - 800 Carol H. - 500 Bob D. - 100 Eleanor F. - 100

Nancy O. - 700 Barbara C. - 500 Mary C. - 100 John O. - 100

Lynette P. - 600 Mary Ann B. - 300 Bob B. - 100 Karen M. - 100

Lou Ann A. - 600 Betty C. - 300 Bev F. - 100 David T. - 100

Sharon T. - 600 Ginny C. - 300 Patricia M. - 100

FOR JANUARY 2018 EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAMS

January is National Blood Donor Month

In the United States, about 39,000 units of blood are needed in hospitals and emergency medical

treatment facilities for patients with diseases, organ transplantation procedures and to help save the

lives of victims of accidents. The awareness campaign encourages those who are at least

seventeen years old and meet other donor requirements to donate blood.

There is usually a 10-20% decrease in blood and platelet donations during winter as people become

busy with holiday-related activities and travel. There are also recruited donors who are not able to

donate due to cold or flu symptoms, but patients don't get a holiday from needing blood. Generous

blood and platelet donations help ensure lifesaving blood products reach those who need them

including accident victims, heart surgery patients, and those receiving treatment for leukemia, cancer

or sickle cell disease.

Platelets are key clotting components of blood often needed by cancer patients, burn victims and

bone marrow recipients. Unlike whole blood, which has a shelf life of forty-two days, platelets must

be transfused within five days of donation, so it’s important to have a steady supply of platelets on

hand.

Why is donating blood important?

There is no substitute for blood.

“Fresh” blood is always needed for infant patients.

Type O blood is the universal blood donor, but of course hospitals encourage all blood type

donors.

What is a “blood type”?

Blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets in a liquid called plasma. Your

blood group is identified by antibodies and antigens in the blood. Antibodies are proteins found in

plasma. They’re part of your body’s natural defenses. They recognize foreign substances, such as

germs, and alert your immune system, which destroys them. Antigens are protein molecules found

on the surface of red blood cells.

There are four main blood groups: A, B, O, and AB: each defined by the antigens it carries. For

example, blood group “A” has antigens on the red blood cells with anti-B antibodies in the plasma.

Receiving blood from the wrong ABO group can be life threatening. If someone with group B blood

is given group A blood, their anti-A antibodies will attack the group A cells. This is why group A

blood must never be given to someone who has group B blood. As group O red blood cells don’t

have any A or B antigens, it can safely be given to any other group. It is not necessary to know your

blood type when you go to donate. The technicians will sort all that out later.

To schedule an appointment to donate, go to redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-733-2767.

Sources: nhs.uk/conditions/blood-groups consumerhealthdigest.com redcross.org

Q&A Session with Bob Denney:

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

A: My physician suggested that I find a place to workout. So I came to the

Open House in April 2017 and joined right there. I try to work out 5-6

times per week mostly in the morning.

Q: What activities do you participate in?

A: I try to attend the stretching class every Tuesday and Thursday. My goal

is to do 45-60 minutes of cardio each day and use the weight machines

on Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. I try to vary the weight and the

number of sets. I also enjoy Cyber Cycling. For 2018, I want to try Line

Dancing and Yoga.

Q: What is your favorite aspect of EngAge Wellness?

A: Coming each day to EngAge Wellness I find friendly faces and a family like atmosphere. The staff

here is always so helpful and I am beginning to wonder if they ever have a bad day. When I was

employed, I worked with University Fitness and Recreation programs for over 30 years so I have

seen the good, the bad, and the ugly. Definitely, the Engage Wellness team does the good! Also, I

need to mention the opportunities to meet so many dedicated participants with diverse backgrounds

and fitness goals who making exercising fun.

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

A: My motivation to exercise has never changed but the opportunity to become involved with EngAge

Wellness and taking advantage of the classes/services/challenges with the participants and friendly

knowledgeable staff motivates me to come in and exercise. I never liked the term work-out because

if exercise is work then we would all make excuses on how to get out of it. I try to make my

exercising routine fun!

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

goals?

A: Be yourself. Take advantage of the expertise of the EngAge Wellness team and develop realistic

goals. Exercise programs are not one-size fits all. You don’t need to emulate one group or a person

since we have participants that spend two to three hours each day/six days a week (preparing for the

next Cyber Cycle challenge) and others that do 20 minutes on the treadmill. Everyone who is here

wants to improve their health and achieve their goals. Finally, once you develop your routine...stick

with it for a while before you make any changes.

Q: How has exercise helped manage any chronic conditions?

A: I developed chronic conditions in my late forties and early fifties. Like most, work consumed a

majority of my time and exercise took a back seat. Finally, my conditions became so severe, it forced

me to retire earlier than I had wanted. My family and physician convinced me that health and

exercise must became my number one priority. I also had to work around changes in my diet due to

celiac disease and Type 2 diabetes. Fortunately, by making this a priority I have lost substantial

weight, reduced the number of medications, and have my diabetes under control.

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). ANSWERS are on the back!!

Q&A Session with Bob Denney (continued):

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

A: I walk by the EngAge Wellness T-shirts each day that say “Exercise is my Medicine”. True, exercise

is a tool for successful aging but I would include: family, friendships, taking the opportunities for

fellowship, have fun, and of course, laughter.

A few facts about me:

I grew up in Omaha graduating from Westside High School, went to UNO and received my bachelors

degree, completed my Masters degree at the University of Iowa. I worked over 35 years in University

Student Life programs at UNO, Iowa, U of Minnesota TC, Morningside College, and Creighton primarily

in Recreation, Camps, a little bit of teaching and event management. As I mention before, I live with

Celiac Disease (autoimmune disease where you must not consume wheat, rye or barley). I am the

person at Chat Cafe who will be asking what ingredients are in your food. I enjoy spectator sports,

swimming, dogs, golf (if my back is healthy), and when it’s warm, I am out walking the Omaha trail

system.

Visit us online!

www.unmc.edu/engage

Volume 7, Issue 1 | December 2018

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

Alex Eilers

P.T. Student/Work Study Employee

Hannah Hussey

P.T. Student/Work Study Employee

Maggie Morehouse

P.T. Student/Work Study Employee

Rachel White

P.T. Student/Work Study Employee

Patrick Bartmess

Volunteer Newsletter Developer

EngAge Wellness Hours:

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

Saturdays — 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Jumble answers:

School

Insist

Teach

Flare

Answer to Cartoon:

Crossfit

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: ______________________________________________

WEATHER CLOSING REMINDER

In the event the 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.