Residents at The Retreat, RWCI’s senior living facility, have maintained active and healthy lifestyles with the help of HBC Consulting-sponsored aerobics and crafts classes. RWCI continues to monitor the seniors’ weight, blood pressure, and BMI on a monthly basis to help inform their lifestyle choices.
This month, several residents enrolled in the evidence-based Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, sponsored by the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services and the Centralina Area Agency on Aging. Classes are offered at no cost for 3 hours, once per week for six weeks and cover techniques for effectively living with diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, and other common chronic illnesses in a supportive group environment. Two trained leaders facilitate the workshop with active participation from the residents. Workshops involve learning and practicing techniques for:
- Dealing with pain, fatigue, frustration, and isolation
- Managing medications
- Strength, flexibility, and endurance
- Communicating with family, friends, and health professionals about illnesses
- Healthy eating
- Building confidence
Additionally, leaders who have emerged from within the senior living community are engaging in fruitful fundraising efforts to purchase exercise equipment and uniforms for the SWAG (Seniors With Attitude and Grace) fitness group, with operational support from RWCI.