Rutgers Stages “Mind and Body Games” at Parker’s Fun, Food, & Fitness Fair

By Brian Wood

Highland Park - Seventeen students from the Rutgers Department of Exercise Science and Sports Studies reached across generations to stage “Fun Mind and Body Games” at the Fun, Food and Fitness Fair on April 6 at Parker Home®.

The Rutgers students are enrolled in Dr. Nicole Robell’s class on Exercise and Aging as part of their four-year degree. The students were challenged by Dr. Robell to create games and exercises that would address issues that affect our aging population.

“Most of these students are just beginning to understand how to create programs for the senior population. There are very different levels of ability within this age group,” Dr. Robell explained. “The students often don’t realize how much contact they will have with the over-55 population in their field of sports and exercise. These games are a great way to bridge that inter-generational gap.” 

The Rutgers group created six “Mind and Body Game” stations that were set up in the Parker Pavilion and for most of the day it was standing room only with senior participants checking out the action.

• At the “Hangman” game, they had to correctly answer to health-related questions to avoid completing the hangman drawing.

• The “Matching Calories” game was designed to raise awareness of the true calorie counts of many popular meal and snack choices.

• “Rutgers Korn Hole” had participants tossing bean bags at a target, improving hand-eye coordination.

• A “Tactile Manipulation” station taught visitors how they could use everyday household objects such as rope, books and water bottles as exercise equipment.

• And at the “Dance and Freeze” station, attendees got in some aerobic exercise to some popular dance tunes from across the decades.

This is the second year Dr. Robell’s class has participated in the fair and it was this group of students’ first time with the program. Dr. Robell was impressed with her students’ enthusiasm and willingness to engage with the seniors.

“Last year’s group was a little shy and I had to nudge them to get out there,” she said, laughing. “But this time, wow, they really jumped into action and were totally involved.”

The students, at the same time, were surprised at how engaged their audience was with the program. Casey Woodfinlevine and Kevin Albert were in charge of the bean-bag toss. “I was impressed with how intense the attendees were,” said Kevin. “I thought they would shy away from us, but that was definitely not the case at all.”

Casey noted how many participants were Rutgers alumni. “It was really great to connect with so many alumni during the day,” she said. She learned a lot about working with the seniors, she added, which will help in her planned career as a physical therapist.

Noreen Sidhom had one of the more active jobs of the day, staffing the “Dance and Freeze” station. She and her partners, Christine Madarang and Katharine Morales, purposely chose major dance hits from each decade, in order to connect with their audience.

“We purposely asked the attendees to pick tunes that mean something special to them,” Noreen said. “Plus, they taught us some of their favorite dances too. We all got a chance to try something new.”

On Sunday afternoon as the program wound down and attendees departed, a beaming Dr. Robell congratulated the Rutgers team as they assembled for a group photo. “I’m really proud of you guys. I’ve heard nothing but great things about you all day. Every single one of you pitched in, got involved, had fun. You done good. ” 

Parker Home provides frequent programs for its residents as well as the community-at-large. Parker has a long-standing reputation of providing the ultimate in personalized, affordable high quality long-term care services in a home-like setting for over 100 years. Guided by the principles of the Eden Alternative®, Parker embraces and nurtures aging as a natural stage of life to be celebrated with compassion and enthusiasm.