Back to home July 2012
Lee Memorial Health System
SHARE Club Keeps Seniors Busy Injuries Can Have Lasting Effects
Maintaining connections and participating with others in social activities is
important throughout our lives, but can be especially valuable for seniors. In
Southwest Florida, SHARE Club aims to keep residents age 50 and older healthier,
more active, happier and more engaged.
“In everything we do, we try to provide our members with information they can use and fun things they can do,” says Teresa Frank-Fahrner, SHARE Club program coordinator. “We listen to our members to adapt our programs and events to meet their needs and wants. This program is for them and we want them to get as much out of it as they can.”
Sometimes, SHARE Club members don’t realize what they are getting into until they give something new a try—take Jack and Rosalie Decker, for instance. “My wife was always interested in any of the SHARE Club seminars that pertained to health and fitness,” Jack says. “We went to a seminar where they talked about the CHIP [Complete Health Improvement Project] cooking and nutrition class, so we signed up for that.”
Rosalie says Jack wasn’t too excited about the CHIP program. “Jack said, ‘I’ll give you one week and then I’m out of here,’” Rosalie says. “He ended up staying with me for the entire, month-long class. We both learned so much about nutrition and lifestyle changes. Jack has gotten so involved in the kitchen, he creates new and healthy meals, and he is healthier, too. He is off his diabetes medication, he takes half the old dose of his blood pressure medication and he is biking seven to 10 miles a day.”
Jack and Rosalie say they never would have heard about the CHIP program if not for SHARE Club. “SHARE Club is wonderful,” Rosalie says. “It has been a lifesaver.”
In addition to the health and wellness programs, Rosalie says she is grateful for the assistance of Jo Marshall, SHINE counselor with the Florida Department of Elder Affairs, who hosts Medicare seminars for SHARE Club members. “Medicare is always changing,” Rosalie says. “I appreciate everything Jo does and the help she provides each year as we figure out our options and benefits. That adds another level of support for us SHARE Club members.”
SHARE Club offers its members opportunities to cultivate personal relationships through luncheons, trips and social activities throughout the year.
If you are a SHARE Club member, sign up to receive the electronic version of the SHARE Club calendar of events. Send us an email with your full name to SHARE-Club@LeeMemorial.org or call us at 239-424-3765.
SHARE Club offers its members opportunities to cultivate personal relationships through luncheons, trips and social activities throughout the year.
Sharing Through Share Club
space
Visit Lee Memorial Health System on Vimeo
spacer