Senior citizens can often be a forgotten generation today. However, Karla Robinson, the Alabama Cooperative Extension System coordinator in Conecuh County, is taking strides to foster growth for this generation in her community. Rain or shine, the senior citizens of Conecuh County are flocking to the local wellness center for exercise classes facilitated by Karla and Bridget Johnson, the county’s Extension office administrator.
Seniors on the Go is a program that Karla and her team committed to teaching each Tuesday and Thursday year-round. Two years and more than 200 classes in, the Conecuh County Extension office has built a solid following in the community. The Extension office partners with the Evergreen Medical Center’s Health and Wellness Center, using their gym to host the free program.
“It is so rewarding to be able to do something that you can see making a difference in the lives of others on a weekly basis. It makes my heart happy to help our seniors. By attending our classes twice per week, people are building relationships that they wouldn’t have made otherwise. They are making friends and community connections. They are also telling others about our programs and promoting Extension’s community efforts in their places of worship and among their friend groups.” — Karla Robinson
Karla said the benefits of the program have been numerous and the results from the class are positive. Many attendees have experienced better balance, a decrease in shaking, and increased confidence in their ability to remain independent at home. She said she has even seen some seniors add 100 squats (from standing to sitting position) to the end of their workouts.
For Karla, it is rewarding to see these physical changes and increases in confidence, as well as the friendships that have formed during exercise class each week. The classes are heartwarming for both those conducting the programming and those participating in it.
Karla’s Seniors on the Go class is one of the many ways to discover lifelong health. Whether it is learning about aging gracefully through the Successful Aging Initiative or learning about motherhood through Today’s Mom, an Alabama Extension educator in your area is working to find practical solutions, provide opportunities, and empower people. Discover more at www.aces.edu/discover.
Karla Robinson and Bridget Johnson