November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 25

Participants work together on common
goals in an inclusive hybrid class.
ticipants - whether at home or in
the 60+ education room - with an
equitable experience. The focus is
the mind-body connection, and our
goal, to create a community based
on common experience rather than
on physical location. " The grant
application was approved and resulted
in a technology-based system
utilizing cameras and several monitors.
All class members, despite their
physical location, are visually represented
equally and soon engage as if
they are all in the same room.
Our next challenge: how could we
reach older adults who are isolated
or lonely; who may not have internet
service; and who are experiencing
loss of strength, loss of balance,
depression and/or a dwindling support
system? How could we create a
technology-based system to be used
from home by people with no technology
experience? How could we
put the " unity " in " community " ?
We have achieved this vision, and
an equitable, hybrid delivery system
is available at no cost to older adults
with no computer connection or
experience. We pivoted an Oregon
Cascades West Council of Governments
grant to fund the lease of 10
" GrandPad " devices. The devices allow
users who are not computer literate
to connect by phone, Zoom or
email with their curated list of contacts,
personal and medical, without
fear of spam, spoofs or robocalls.
But the key to our strategy is a oneclick
button that links users directly
to exercise classes or discussions
of their choice at the 60+ Activity
Center. This connection has proven
to be an effective stepping stone, encouraging
an increase in behavioral
activation by increasing self-efficacy.
Isolated individuals can socialize,
new friendships have sprouted, and
participants' chronic pain is being
mitigated. Our older adult members
who are more mobile have
experienced more compassion and
less concern about the possibility
of spending time physically away
from a supportive community. Participants
in the most recent hybrid
programs have reported dramatic
changes in their physical and emotional
lives.
An Enduring Impact
Our activities to improve connectivity
and reduce isolation will continue,
and the impact will benefit
participants, community-based organizations
and senior living facilities
seeking equitable education and
exercise program solutions, and older
adults seeking help in emergency
rooms and hospitals for falls or
symptoms that are manifestations
of loneliness or depression. Each
will have an exciting, accessible tool
to improve health outcomes.
The model has been incorporated
into additional evidence-based programs
at the 60+ Activity Center. In
January, NRPA provided a grant to
train and certify two instructors in
Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention.
Our second eight-week program
started in May and included
14 in-studio and eight remote participants
with a 100 percent program
completion rate. This hybrid concept
will extend to additional programs,
thereby increasing equity, connectivity
and community. We see this
approach to creating a community
based on shared needs rather than location
is ultimately a suicide prevention
program for older adults.
Bryn McCornack is a Volunteer and Advocate for the Newport
(Oregon) 60+ Activity Center (WalkWithEase.Bryn@gmail.com).
PARK S ANDRECRE AT ION . OR G | NOVEMBER 2 0 2 4 | Parks & Recreation
25
PHOTO COURTESY OF LEIGH ZAPH

November 2024 – Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of November 2024 – Parks & Recreation

November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - Intro
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - Cover1
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - Cover2
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 1
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 2
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 3
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 4
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 5
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 6
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 7
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 8
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 9
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 10
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 11
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 12
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 13
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 14
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 15
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 16
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 17
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 18
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 19
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 20
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 21
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 22
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 23
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 24
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 25
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 26
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 27
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 28
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 29
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 30
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 31
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 32
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 33
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 34
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 35
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 36
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 37
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 38
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 39
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 40
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 41
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 42
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 43
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 44
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 45
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 46
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 47
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 48
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 49
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 50
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 51
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 52
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 53
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 54
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 55
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - 56
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - Cover3
November 2024 – Parks & Recreation - Cover4
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2024
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2023
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/february-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/january-2022
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/december-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/november-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/october-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/september-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/august-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/july-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/june-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/may-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/april-2021
https://ezine.nrpa.org/nrpa/ParksRecreationMagazine/march-2021
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com