Local Seniors Learn Life-Saving Skills from ESU Students

Members of The Older Adult Learning Community (TOALC) received a free lesson in life-saving skills during a class led by graduate students in East Stroudsburg University’s exercise science program on Feb. 26 at East Stroudsburg Presbyterian Church.

The interactive class focused on avoiding/minimizing the impact of falls, an injury risk older adults are particularly vulnerable to, especially in the winter months, explained TOALC vice president Gregory Nulle.

“That’s a big concern for seniors,” Nulle said.

Students Stephanie Malone, Kelsi Mount, Zia Nicholson, Joseph Stofanak and Ryan Tegtmeier began by explaining the causes of falls, offering tips on how to fall-proof a living space, and discussing why staying active is important.

After loosening up participants with warm-up exercises like side bends, neck rolls and calf raises, they divided up the group and guided them through exercise stations aimed at improving balance, strength, coordination and mobility.

In addition to prevention tips, the group also learned what to do in case of a fall. Stofanak demonstrated proper techniques for getting up from the ground, including the proper way to roll over and the best way to lift themselves back up.

Mount, who completed her bachelor’s degree in exercise science from ESU in 2023, said she was grateful for the opportunity to use the practices she’s learning in the classroom while helping community members who directly benefit from those lessons.

“I personally love getting to know people in the community and I know it means a lot to them to be able to get out and be social with others as well,” she said.

Cooling off after the class concluded, Dottie Gordon, a TOALC member from Stroudsburg, commended the students for explaining the exercises and demonstrating them with enthusiasm.

“They were very nice and very helpful,” Gordon said.

TOALC has existed in East Stroudsburg since 2002 and has featured classes on arts, language, literature, health and any other topic members want to learn about, Nulle said. After some members brought up fall prevention, he reached out to College of Health Sciences Dean Brian Street, Ph.D., about the possibility of organizing a class.

“We’ve had programs in the past with other faculty from ESU and so we knew there was a lot of expertise there,” he said.

Nulle said it won’t be the last time TOALC taps into that expertise. ESU’s department of communication sciences and disorders provided hearing screenings and education on hearing loss and hearing aids to the group in February. Attendees will have an opportunity to complete a hearing evaluation in ESU’s Speech and Hearing Clinic.

“Working together is a win-win for everybody,” he said. “For the students. For us. It’s a wonderful thing.”

Learn more about the exercise science program at ESU.

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