Serving our Seniors Magazine January - March 2025

As the labor shortage continues, the likelihood of having the help of an in-home caregiver or a nursing home caregiver is diminishing. In an attempt to help the 60+ population improve their physical abilities to do more for themselves, we started a pilot project. The purpose is to figure out how to best help older adults to improve their ability to function independently, in later life. This is called, functional fitness training. The Mayo Clinic, describes functional fitness as, “Exercise that trains your muscles to work together to prepare them for daily tasks one does every day. When properly applied, it can make everyday activities easier to perform independently and improves a person’s quality of life. In October 2024, we started with 10, sedentary people, age 60 +, who never exercise. They made a commitment to exercising in a structured class 2 days per week for 45 minutes. As of November 26, 2024, #8 remained as actively engaged exercisers. Functional fitness participant, Janet, said this about the exercise program, “Perfect exercise program for the older population. No hopping, skipping, jumping or running. Great for all body types. Increases flexibility in the joints, which helps with everyday activities. This would benefit both men and women of any age and capability level.” In the April – June 2025 issue of Serving Our Seniors Magazine we will report the pre-test and post-test results, which will tell us if the exercise program improved the participants level of functional fitness. If you want to take action to reduce the likelihood you will need to rely on a caregiver, in later life, give Tina, Health Care Advocate Trainer, a call at 419-624-1856. When answered by the automated attendant press 3, then press 116. The next phase of functional fitness training will begin January 21, 2025, each Tuesday and Thursday 2:45pm – 3:30pm at the Erie County Senior Center, 620 E. Water Street – Sandusky. Age Doesn’t Matter: It’s Not Too Late to Improve Your Functional Fitness On Jan. 30, 2025, Dan McLaughlin, Financial Elder Abuse Investigator, Erie County Prosecutor’s office, a local victim of a crypto scam and Mark Hoy, Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI), Criminal Intelligence Unit - Supervisor and Attorney, Bailee Hollingshead, Ohio Department of Commerce, will explain how crypto currency scams are targeting senior citizens. This will take place Jan. 30, 2025, 1:30pm – 3pm at the Erie County Senior Center, 620 E. Water St. – Sandusky. According to Mark Hoy, Criminal Intelligence Unit Supervisor with the BCI, fraudsters are very sophisticated. The tactics used, sound and look official. Text messages, e-mail alerts and telephone calls are intentionally targeting older Americans. Fraudsters are now impersonating law enforcement professionals. They communicate a warrant has been issued for the older person’s arrest and have the ability to sound official, use real names of law enforcement professionals and can create counterfeit federal or local court documents. Being retired shrinks a person’s social circles and reduces opportunities to learn about these occurrences, on a personal level. Because of this age group’s lack of awareness, sinister crimes can more easily target the unsuspecting. Come to the discussion forum and expand your knowledge about the ever-evolving cryptocurrency crimes. What you learn may prevent YOU from being a victim. An audience of 30 or more is required to justify the time and travel of the panelists. See page 4 for details on how to register. Seated front:Tricia, instructor - Integrated Therapeutic Healing; L-R: Alice, Janet, Kathy N., Amy, Sue, Lynda, Kathy M. Mark Hoy Dan McLaughlin Bailee Hollingshead Cryptocurrency Crimes and Senior Citizens 9