June 2018 Newsletter

Engage Wellness is the medically-based way to get and stay healthier

A warm welcome to new participants that joined our Engage Wellness family

in the month of May: Jackie G., Chanel M., Adella W., Judy K., Carol A.,

Jacqueline Q., Don W., Douglas F., Patricia P., Della B., Susan T.

Thank-you for choosing us to be part of your wellness journey!

REFER ONE, GET ONE!

Participants if you refer an individual that joins in the month June, you will get one month FREE!!!

Congratulations to MaryLu G., Mariam S., Suzanne B., John A., who earned a free month of

participation by referring a new member!

Tell your friends about our June special, $25.00 off the one-time enrollment fee or

invite them in for a tour.

“The Aging Brain”

Presented by: Janelle Beadle, Ph.D. in Neuroscience, Assistant Professor,

Department of Gerontology, University of Nebraska at Omaha

Please join us to learn about some of the fascinating changes that happen to our brain as we get older

and how this impacts our capacity to make decisions, remember things, and experience emotions. How

healthy aging differs from aging-related diseases, such as dementia. Hear about some exciting new

interventions designed to boost aspects of thinking and memory.

Thursday, June 14th

12:15 — 1:15 pm

Multi-Purpose Room

There will be snacks since this is over the lunch hour. If you are interested in attending, please add your

name to the sign-up list by the front desk. This is open to the public, feel free to extend the invitation to

family or friends that may be interested in attending. They can call in their reservation to 402-552-7210.

Hope to see you there!

Congratulations to the following participants

who have achieved special attendance milestones at

Engage Wellness (as of May 23rd

, 2018).

Jerry W. - 1,500 Fred K. - 800 Paul B. - 600 Tom F. - 200

Roger E. - 1,000 Gladys S. - 800 Pat W. - 500 Owen N. - 100

Joel H. - 900 Judy E. - 700 Mary Ann B. - 400 Peggy B. - 100

Judy G. - 900 Mary Ellen D. - 600 Cherie F. - 400 Linda P. - 100

LET’S MOVE!

Let’s Move! is a low-impact whole-body workout that provides three blocks of fitness: cardio-strength-

flexibility. This class was added to the Engage Wellness group movement lineup when Neurological

Sciences partnered with us to provide a class appropriate for the Multiple Sclerosis patients that had been

participating in Jazzercise classes. The class provides intensity levels for ALL fitness levels.

INSTRUCTOR BIO

Jeannie Hannan, PhD has taught this class on and off over the past 4 years. Her

fitness class instruction began in 1989 at Mademoiselle Fitness. She has taught

a variety of fitness classes over the years including high-impact aerobics,

low-impact aerobics, step aerobics, strengthening, stretching, Tai Chi, and Fit &

Strong. Jeannie currently has four American College of Sports Medicine exercise

certifications which include: Group Exercise Instructor, Certified Exercise

Physiologist, Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer, and Health Fitness Director.

Recently Jaelynn Griess, Doctorate of Physical Therapy student and Engage

Wellness Federal Work Study employee has taken over teaching the Let’s Move

class. She is doing a great job and the participants are enjoying her energy and

fitness knowledge.

HERE’S WHAT PARTICIPANTS HAVE TO SAY…

“The benefits from this have been life changing. First, physically and then--as important for me, is this

network of caring professionals and participants. It’s been such an accepting/supportive group that helps

each other as well as helping pave the way for newcomers.” Janelle B.

“This class has been beneficial to me. I now have better balance, I feel stronger, and able to walk a longer

distance.” Rosemarie B.

“Has ↑ my confidence, ↑ my stability, ↑ my strength and balance, and added to outside socialization.”

Sharon M.

“I love the varied music and exercise movements our instructors use to get us smiling and working out. Forty-five minutes goes by too quickly, but my body is awake and moving more freely because of it. Let’s Move brings a smile to my face and gives me great pleasure because of all my classmates who rarely miss. They motivate me to keep coming to enjoy building up my muscles and cardiovascular health!” Miriam S.

THE THIRD-ANNUAL GIVE65 EVENT

Reminder the GIVE65 Event will be held July 10th

–12th

.

This will serve as our main fundraiser this year.

Sixty-five hours of online giving. In addition to what we raise online, we will receive pledges funds from our Engage Wellness Advisory Board and Friends of Engage Wellness. All participating organizations are now eligible for matching grants. Home Instead Senior Care Foundation is providing $125,000 in matching grants. Every participating nonprofit is eligible for up to $5,000 in matching grants. This is a dollar-for-dollar match (as long as funds are still available), which means organizations do not have to reach $5,000 and/or their fundraising goal to receive matching dollars. In addition to matching grants, all approved, participating organizations will be eligible for one of two $10,000 financial rewards recognizing outstanding small-, medium- and large-sized participating nonprofits based on operating budget.

Funds raised will be used for promoting new memberships, enhance participant retention, and provide

scholarships for those in need.

For those who would like to support us, but don’t want to use their personal credit card online, pre-paid

cards will be available to purchase for the GIVE65 Campaign.

Additional details will be provided in July.

To learn more go to: www.give65.org

Tell your friends, you can make a difference!

JUNE IS ALZHEIMER’S AWARENESS MONTH

“Alzheimer's is a type of dementia that causes problems with memory, thinking and

behavior.” (Alz.org) According to the Alzheimer’s Association there are 47 million people

in the World living with dementia and this number is expected to increase to 75 million by

2030. Alzheimer’s disease is expected to cost the United States $277 billion in 2018 and

increase to over $1.1 trillion by 2050.

The exact cause of Alzheimer’s disease is still unknown. However, research continues to show that

certain conditions which increase the risk of heart disease, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and

high cholesterol, also increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The Alzheimer’s Association

reports that some autopsy studies have showed that up to 80% of people with Alzheimer’s disease also

have heart disease.

Results of a six year study with over 1700 people age 65+ suggests that regular exercise is associated

with the delay in onset of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. (Ann Intern Med. 2006; 144:73-81

www.annals.org).

The Alzheimer’s Association believes that regular physical activity, management of cardiovascular risk

factors (diabetes, obesity, smoking, and hypertension) and lifelong learning/cognitive training reduce the

risk of cognitive decline and dementia.

The Alzheimer’s Association The Longest Day is all about love for all those affected

by Alzheimer’s disease. Let’s show our love and support for Alzheimer’s awareness

by wearing purple and participating in physical activity on Thursday, June 21st.

Q&A Session with Patrick Bartmess:

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

A: I started attending with my mother in 2011.

Q: What activities do you participate in?

A: Recently my main focus has been participating in the CyberCycle

challenges. I have always been attracted to the stationary bikes

because the dragon-catching games are fun but this year is the first

time I have attempted to complete the full-year challenge. Maybe a

short description is necessary. The CyberCycle is an interactive

exercise bike on which you can either play games or follow courses.

If you choose to play a game, you gain points by pedaling around in

various environments and either run over coins or catch flying drag-

ons. If you choose the follow one of the preplanned courses, you can select a flat easy path or a

series of ever longer, ever hillier paths. In the past I have chosen the easy paths but this year I

have decided to follow the curated program, which assigns a different path each week. Because

the bike is connected to the internet I can gauge my performance against all the other participants

across the country, and that motivates me to try my best – even when the path is long and hard.

Presumably the people who complete each weekly challenge the fastest will receive some sort of

congratulations at the end but the real motivation for me is trying to beat the other people’s times.

There are some quick pedallers out there!

Q: What is your favorite aspect of Engage Wellness?

A: The sense of community.

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

A: It has always been difficult to motivate myself to exercise. I seem to need a practical goal, and

“being healthy” is apparently too abstract. So I create short term challenges for myself and increase

variety. In general staying trim is a strong motivator but the pleasure of exertion is sometimes all I

need.

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

goals?

A: Keep communicating with fellow participants. It’s no fun to exercise in isolation, even if it takes a lot

of concentration to get through the sets, it’s important to take breaks and chat with neighbors.

Laughter makes the pain go away.

Q: How has exercise helped manage any chronic conditions?

A: The combination of regular exercise and thoughtful meal planning has helped to stave off joint

inflammation.

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

A: Perhaps I am harping upon one note, but staying in touch with community members is an essential

element to successful ageing. Even if one can only afford a few minutes to exercise, don’t slip in

and out of the gym without offering a kind greeting to a fellow participant.

Q&A Session with Patrick Bartmess continued:

A few facts about me:

When I started here I was really gung ho about tai chi but now I have a new hobby that is drawing my

enthusiasm in a different direction. I am learning how to solder so I can make and play my own

synthesizer. Who knows where that will lead but so far it’s been fun to just make loud noises in the

basement. When I started coming here with my mom I hoped that we could take tai chi and stretching

classes together. She has Alzheimer’s disease so she slowly had to withdraw from those classes, but

we hired the excellent personal training staff to give her one-on-one attention and that made it possible

for her to continue exercising here for another couple years. Now that she is in assisted living I have

had to change my gym schedule and reassess my personal goals but the Engage Wellness staff and

participants have been a constant presence during my family’s transition.

Engage Wellness is fortunate enough to have two cardiovascular machines that provide just as much

benefit for the brain, as they do for the body. We LOVE our CyberCycles. These machines are connected

to the internet and because of that, are able to provide a real life, yet virtual experience of riding a bicycle

along various sceneries, and even games & challenges!

Research published in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine calls the CybcerCycle a ‘virtual,

reality-enhanced exercise, or, ‘exergaming’, that combines physical exercise with a computer simulated

environment, which can yield a greater cognitive benefit for older adults, BETTER than traditional exercise

alone.’ The study concludes that older adults who choose exergaming over traditional exercise, or at least

make it part of their exercise program, experience added cognitive benefit, and perhaps, prevent decline,

and/or ward off other mild cognitive impairments. Cardiovascular exercise alone improves circulation to

the brain and are said to prevent, delay, and improve cognitive functioning in normal aging adults.

Exergaming (riding the CyberCycle) provides added benefits to cognitive function by navigating a 3D

environment, anticipating turns in the trails, and competing, all of which require additional focus, expanded

divided attention, and enhanced decision making.

If you don’t currently ride the CyberCycle and you’d like to, please grab Heather or Sara so they can get your proper settings established, and give you recommendations on where to start!

“Exergaming and Older Adult Cognition: A Cluster Randomized Clinical Trial,” C. Anderson-Hanley, P.J. Arciero, A.M. Brickman, J.P. Nimon, N. Okuma, S.C. Westen, M.E. Merz, B.D. Pence, J.A. Woods, A.F. Kramer, and E.A. Zimmerman (doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2011.10.016). The article appears in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Volume 42, Issue 2 (February 2012), published by Elsevier.

PARTICIPANT TESTIMONIALS

“I look forward to the competition, rider camaraderie, weekly challenges, it holds me accountable.” Bob D.

“I enjoy the challenge both personal and team. Great cardio workout.” Bonnie L.

“My favorite exercise equipment is the CyberCycle. It combines a variety of interesting courses with numerous ways to get my competitive juices flowing. I can compete with others whether in my own age group or younger. I can compete with myself as it has a ghost rider representing one’s ride on any of the courses. It makes exercise FUN!” Bob B.

Visit us online!

www.unmc.edu/engage

Volume 7, Issue 6 | June 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

Tanner Dewey

P.T. Student/Work Study Employee

Jaelynn Griess

P.T. Student/Work Study Employee

Kristina Hedum

P.T. Student/Work Study Employee

Emily Williams

P.T. Student/Work Study Employee

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.

Is the main component of blood, which supplies cells with

oxygen and nutrients and carries waste out of the body.

Regulates internal body temperature. Through the process

of sweat production and evaporation, one’s body can avoid

overheating. The blood on the skin surface is cooled, and it

carries this cooling effect on the body’s interior.

Lubricates Joints.

Cushions vital organs.

How much water do I need?

For adults: Men need roughly 3 liters of water while women

require 2.2 liters a day. That is roughly about 13 cups for

men and 9 cups for women.

For the physically active: Take at least 2.7 liters, 11 cups of

water, daily since strenuous physical activity, like going to

the gym, can cause a rapid drop in fluid levels.

Best times to drink water:

After waking up to activate your internal body organs.

Before taking a bath to lower blood pressure

Thirty minutes before eating to help digestion and an hour

lager to give the body time to absorb the food’s nutrients.

Drink up!!! Source: www.waterlogic.com

HYDRATION

It is a natural resource that is required by every person to help satisfy our health-related needs. This includes our body composition, mental focus, sleep and recovery. It is evident that water is one of the key elements responsible for human life on earth and is vital for our survival. The human brain is composed of 95% water, lungs are 90%, blood is 83%, muscles are 76%, and bones are 22% water. These percentages are rigorous proof of the importance of H2O in our bodies to maintain favorable health. However, most people drink below their daily recommended quota. Even though people are aware of the health benefits of water, many fall short of the eight glasses a day, causing an alarming rise in the number of dehydrated individuals.

Water consumption must balance water loss. If the body suffers through a water deficiency, the lymphatic system, the system that helps maintain fluid balance, makes sure essential cells stay hydrated at the cost of damage to less important ones, causing your body to perform less efficiently. Dehydration can cause a variety of symptoms including headaches, fatigue, lack of focus, dizziness, and in some severe cases, fainting.

Proper hydration positively impacts your productivity. According to studies, proper hydration works to promote good mental health, which has a positive impact on overall cognitive function.