BluePrint Mini-Grants
East Central Illinois Rural Health Network
Mattoon, Illinois
Project Title:
Increasing Physical Activity Among East Central Illinois Adults Age 50 and Over
Amount Funded: $17,214
About the Organization/Coalition:
The East Central Illinois Rural Health Network is a coalition of 27 health
care, governmental, social service, educational, and business organizations
located in seven counties. Six community-based organizations will work as
partners to identify barriers to exercise and increase the physical activity
of adults age 50+ in communities across four rural counties in East Central
Illinois. Partners include Douglas County Health Dept., Sarah Bush Lincoln
Health Center, and four senior centers: Coles County Council on Aging,
Douglas County Senior Services, Chester P. Sutton Community Center for
Senior Citizens, and Mid-Illinois Senior Services.
The Take Charge Challenge was designed to be a work-site program but is easily
adapted to presentation at a community center. The advantages of the program
include having a large number of potential participants congregated for
education, support from peers and center staff, and encouragement from
peers to continue an active lifestyle.
Project Objectives:
- A health educator at the Douglas County Health Dept. will provide each
of the four senior centers with education about the importance of physical
activity and implement the Take Charge Challenge exercise program, which
is an adapted worksite program that does not require special facilities
or equipment. Individuals receive personalized exercise recommendations.
Participants will establish individual goals for increasing their level
of exercise, monitor their goals with a simple point system, and receive
a final result at the end of the 10-week program. Health-related incentives
will reward achievement and continued participation.
- Participants will be surveyed at the start of each program to determine
the barriers that hinder their participation in physical activities.
Surveys will also be conducted at the end of the 10-week session, and
again three months after completing the program. Survey data will be
analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the program and to obtain
information to encourage its replication in other communities.
- A staff member at each center will be trained to conduct future classes.
- The grant project will provide a program manual and supplementary materials
as resources for the continued presentation of exercise programs based on
the Take Charge Challenge.
Progress Report:
The Douglas County Health Department and the East Central Illinois Rural Health Network provided the Take Charge Challenge program at a senior center in Edgar County. Initially, 20 seniors attended the orientation session. The coordinators developed a series of low-impact routines to present as examples of possible activities that seniors can engage in individually. The routines include Tai Chi, Yoga, and resistance exercises with household objects. New programs will be initiated this winter at senior centers in three additional communities.
Contact Information:
Michael O'Brien
East Central Illinois Rural Health Network
200 Professional Plaza
Mattoon, IL 61938-9280
(217) 258-2432
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