Preserving Our Seniors’ Self-Reliance

Debra J. Rose and C. Jessie Jones don’t have anything against nursing homes or board-and-cares. But why make that your fate if you don’t really need to?

These two are dedicated to changing seniors’ attitudes--and their bodies--to avoid convalescent care.

“Independent living is so much more rewarding,” Jones said. “You don’t have to be resigned to getting old.”

Jones and Rose are co-directors of the Center for Successful Aging at Cal State Fullerton. Thanks to a new research grant from the Archstone Foundation, the center this past year spread its on-campus balance and mobility exercise program to a dozen community centers throughout Orange County. It will have enough trained leaders in place for 18 community centers next year, with help from the North Orange County and Coastline community college districts.

Yes, most of these community centers have their own exercise classes, but most are generic--

everybody doing the same thing.

The Center for Successful Aging first assesses each senior and targets a training program toward that person’s needs. For example, each person’s walking is recorded on video for later comparisons, and balance is tested.

Some of us have trouble walking when we get older because of numbness in our feet. It affects the sensory information that your feet are touching a surface. So Jones and Rose help these people improve depth perception in other ways.

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One positive outcome of these efforts: First test results from the community centers show a 22% improvement for those at high risk to fall at home.

But the first step, say Jones and Rose, is convincing seniors that they can change. And that seems to be working too.

“Some people here are totally despondent about their health,” said Marsha Taylor, program coordinator at the Fullerton Multi-Service Center. “This program has really brought them out of it, taught them that they can improve their ability to get out and about.”

Helping seniors remain independent will be a main topic at a county-sponsored Summit on Aging, to be held at the Crystal Cathedral in Garden Grove on Oct. 27. Jones, one of the speakers, will emphasize her seven-point plan for getting people to think more about making exercise a part of their regimen for remaining healthy. Too many, she says, think of good health as just absence of disease or illness.

If you’re wondering whether you get enough exercise, Jones suggests you do a 24-hour chart of your activities.

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“So much is done for us today,” she said. “To open your garage door you push a button. On trash day we ‘roll’ our garbage cans to the curb. We don’t wash our cars, we take them to the nearest car wash.”

Jones and Rose’s primary goal is to help seniors remain in independent living. But an added goal is to help those already under some type of care to maintain their mobility and avoid needing more intensive care. Beyond that, the two kinesiologists return to independent living.

“True, we have to age,” Jones said, “but we can age in an active way.”

Shirley Hellen, services director at the Cypress Senior Center, believes the program’s best results might not be something you can calculate.

“For many, it’s a reminder: ‘I’m still a human being; I’m still worthwhile.’ ”

Readers may reach Hicks by calling (714) 564-1049 or e-mail to jerry.hicks@latimes.com