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Aging and Physical Performance Laboratory Outreach Programs
The Aging and Physical Performance Laboratory housed in the Ramsey Center on The University of Georgia campus, is designed for teaching, research and service related to functional performance and physiological capacities in older adults. The Laboratory is directed by Dr. Elaine Cress, who has a joint appointment in the Department of Kinesiology and the Institute of Gerontology, College of Public Health. The Laboratory is committed to improving access to evidence-based physical activity programming for all older adults. Outreach programs to enhance physical activity have been implemented in collaboration with Georgia Division on Aging, Athens Community Council on Aging, Learning in Retirement, Athens Housing Authority, and the Department of Foods and Nutrition.
Learning in Retirement (LIR), a University of Georgia outreach program, is sponsored jointly by the Institute of Higher Education and the Institute of Gerontology, and offers classes to older adults in the community. Each spring semester, in conjunction with her Exercise and Aging (EXRS 4320/6320) course, Dr. Cress offers a strength training class in the LIR curriculum. Students enrolled in the Exercise and Aging course are eligible to register for additional credit (independent study) to learn how to work individually with older adults for 30 sessions of strength training. Students find this an engaging and valuable experience. Pre-physical therapy students in particular find this helpful in their overall career goals. This is one of the most popular courses in the LIR offerings and is filled to capacity within a few hours of opening registration. Dr. Cress received a certificate of appreciation in 2005 from Learning in Retirement for this offering. She is frequently asked to add an offering of it in the fall semester.
Outreach is an integral part of the research in the Aging and Physical Performance Laboratory. Dr. Cress has a longstanding and excellent relationship with Athens Housing Authority where she has maintained an ongoing research and outreach program since 1999. Within the past two years, two of Dr. Cress’ graduate students implemented research programs at Denney Tower, a public housing facility with 105 residents that are primarily (~95%) over 62 years of age. Dawn Hayes a third year doctoral student worked for 2-years to analyze cross-sectional data and implement a longitudinal study on the risk of dependency in older adults at Denney Tower. The purpose of this outreach-research program was two-fold: 1) to train the Athens Housing Authority residence services staff on procedures that could effectively predict residents’ need for formal and informal social services and 2) to provide evidence of the efficacy of the functional performance procedures to predict institutionalization in this population. Working with Geraldine Clarke, Director of Resident Services, and utilizing randomized design, Ms. Hayes administered self-rated and physical functional performance in 30 randomly selected residents. Through a grant from the Institute of Gerontology, she provided the residents with gift bags and a report of their performance. Ms. Hayes successfully completed this research, trained the staff and has been a part of the ongoing mission of the Aging and Physical Performance Laboratory to work effectively with the Athens Community.
Trudy Moore, a fourth year doctoral student is providing a walking and nutrition program that includes residents from Denney Tower and the greater Athens Community. The nutrition program, offered with the assistance of the Department of Foods and Nutrition, provides biweekly classes in nutrition with nutrition lessons and healthy snacks to complement the nutrition lesson. The walking program provides a guided walking program three-days per week and integrates residents of the community-at-large with the residents of Denney Tower. This research and outreach program has 26 participants
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