Michael Norman refuses to let his age control his life.
At 60 years old, Norman carries more enthusiasm than one would expect from someone his age, but he admits he lives a rather sedentary lifestyle.
“I’m sitting all day long,” he said. “I need to get more active.”
Enter Walking Buddies, a program designed to help people like Norman get out and moving one day a week for 12 weeks.
According to Stacey Bright, a senior injury awareness specialist with the Brain Injury Association of Florida Inc., the program will help in preventing falls for senior citizens as well as foster intergenerational relationships between them and the students.
She also hopes that the program will help students gain experience in developing personal skills which could help them in their interaction with future patients.
“It’s really a win-win for both parties,” Bright said.
Initially launched at the University of North Florida in 2006, Walking Buddies is the first such project in Gainesville.
Once the program begins the week of January 25, enrolled senior citizens must attend 10 out of the 12 sessions. Students may walk with up to five participants during the sessions.
According to Yoka Aarnoudse, a physical therapist at the Shands Rehabilitation Center in Magnolia Parke, the sessions will range anywhere between 10 minutes and an hour, depending on the senior citizen’s physical abilities. Pedometers will be used to track the amount of steps used in a session to gauge levels of participation.
Craig Fox, a physical therapist at the Center who works as one of the local coordinator’s of the program, said outreach from students has exceeded expectations. Originally anticipating 10 to 12 students, he currently has 25 volunteers.
Although he admits that senior citizen enrollment is low, he hopes to see them take advantage of the program.
“Right now we need more seniors,” he said. “I’d like to see 100 come out.”
For now, both physical therapists and potential participants such as Norman are excited about the program.
“I’m going to go do it cold turkey; they better be gentle,” he said. “As long as I’m alive, it’s better than the alternative.”
Students with health-related majors who are interested in participating in the program should e-mail Craig Fox at foxca@shands.ufl.edu for more information.
