Senior
Programming and Water Therapy
The WCICC will provide extensive programming for the mature
citizen that will include intergenerational opportunities
for participation in wellness activities.
Older adults have a higher proportion of osteoarthritis
and balance disorders, both of which reduce quality of life
and increase the likelihood of having to move to a nursing
home. This is a particular problem when the older adult has
worked in an industry such as farming that has a higher rate
of osteoarthritis.
Increased physical activity in the elderly improves health
and quality of life. Flexibility, strengthening, and balance
training provide numerous health benefits. Warm water therapy
allows even persons with arthritis to perform non-weight
bearing exercises to take advantage of these benefits and
reduce their arthritis pain.
The WCICC will provide opportunities for aquatic exercise
and will offer People with Arthritis Can Exercise (PACE)
classes of the Arthritis Foundation, aquatic classes, Tai
Chi, and other senior health programming.
back to top Intergenerational Programs
Active, elderly adults will be given the opportunity to
share their lifetime of wisdom, values and life experiences
with the younger generation. Young people can teach seniors
computer skills. Shared activities, tutoring and mentoring
will be the centerpiece of intergenerational programming.
Everyone will benefit by bringing together the assets of
the young and old in intergenerational activities.
back to top Youth and Children's Programming
Obesity is a national problem: the number of overweight
children, teens and adults in the United States has doubled
in the past two decades and one in five children ages 6 and
older are considered overweight. Research indicates obesity
is much more prevalent in rural areas.
Research shows that weight loss and healthy lifestyles reduce
the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and diabetes.
Development of healthy lifestyles and increased physical
activities provide effective, preventative action that will
decrease overall healthcare costs and improve quality of
life for people of all ages.
At the same time, the number of at-risk youth in our country
is growing to epidemic proportions. Drop out rates are as
high in some rural areas as in some of the most distressed
neighborhoods in the United States . Studies show that youth
delinquency and dropout rates can be reduced through attractive,
meaningful after-school programming.
Youth programming at the Wellness Center will build on existing
regional assets of individuals, communities, service providers
and others, developing comprehensive resources and programming
to include all children.
Area school districts have started this process of asset
building by incorporating three state funded initiatives:
Project Success, Healthy Communities/ Healthy Youth, and
Teen REACH. The West Central Illinois Community Center ,
through its facilities and dedicated staff, will build on
this foundation and expand the activities included in these
initiatives to include all youth in the three districts.
Youth health programming will include after school programming
which will include intergenerational tutoring and/or mentoring,
fitness activities, computer classes, team and asset-building
activities. Early childhood programming with parents, daycare
providers, area preschools, PACT and Head Start will follow.
The new facilities will be available for physical education
curricular enhancement throughout the school day for school-aged
children.
Teen activities will be structured to provide all teens
a positive environment that will influence healthy lifestyle
choices, build upon existing strengths and assets, and enhance
a sense of community responsibility. Teen REACH programming,
that targets at-risk children and teens will be available
for children requiring specific or more intense interventions.
The facility will have a teen center.
back to top Family Programming and Lifetime Fitness
The Wellness Center will encourage and strengthen family
relationships through cooperative learning and play activities.
Currently, most fitness centers offer few opportunities for
families to participate together in physical activity. In
most competitive athletic programming for children, parent
participation is limited to watching from the stands.
The WCICC will offer innovative activities for family members
of all ages and skill levels where the family can participate
as a group. Soft skates for all in the gym, family fitness
trails, family swimming sessions and miniature golf are just
a few of the possibilities. Family fitness strengthens the
body, the heart and lungs and the family. Developing an activity “habit” will
instill the value of healthy choices in all members of the
family and will benefit overall their health for a lifetime.
back to top Healthy Choices Programming
Several traits of a rural lifestyle make us less healthy
as a group. Providing healthy choices and alternatives to
children and adults will improve the overall health of our
region. -being of the population of this region. Research
has repeatedly shown that healthy choices are influenced
by peers and by the availability of effective health and
fitness programming.
• 27% of the rural residents smoke.
Involvement in sports is a key influence in young people's
decision not to smoke. Continued physical activity into adulthood
will continue to positively influence these choices. Children
who make good choices can affect their parents' choices.
• Young people in rural areas are more likely
to die from drinking and driving.
Teen Center programs, positive alternatives and peer pressure
will work to decrease the number of teens who engage in this
risky behavior.
• Methamphetamine labs and drug usage has become
a significant rural problem. The WCICC will offer “Say ‘No'
To Drugs” and other programming to help keep kids off drugs.
• 47.4% of the rural residents have sedentary
lifestyles.
By bringing facilities and offering alternative health programming
to the area, rural residents are more likely to maintain
participation in progressive fitness programs. The aqua-therapy
complex will allow the arthritic, elderly and obese to engage
in fitness and flexibility training.
• 33% of rural residents are obese.
Besides increasing physical activity, nutritional choices
need to be positively influenced. A multipurpose room available
to the community will provide space for nutritional classes
and interactive preparation of healthy foods. Additionally,
food choices at the West Central Illinois Community Center
campuses will be nutritionally sound.
• People in rural areas suffer more and die more
often from chronic disease.
Elderly rural residents choose to stay in their own homes
as long as possible. The major reasons elderly enter nursing
homes are chronic disease, arthritis and falling. Aggressive
intervention in the long term nutritional choices and activity
levels will help future generations increase their quality
of life. For those that already have chronic problems, a
progressive strength and flexibility training will help them
to maintain and improve their current physical abilities.
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