CH Senior Center News

Helping older adults successfully age in place is a shared goal of Fairhill Partners and Cleveland Heights Senior Activity Center (SAC). For several years, the two organizations have teamed up to offer health workshops for seniors, to help participants better manage their health, reduce fear of falling, increase physical activity, and improve their quality of life.

In January, Fairhill Partners will bring a six-session Chronic Pain Self-Management (CPSM) workshop, developed at Stanford University, to SAC.

Chronic pain—pain lasting six months or more from a variety of causes—can cause one to feel irritable, tired, isolated, or helpless, and prevent individuals from doing things they enjoy. Workshop participants will learn proven techniques for safely and effectively managing pain, in sessions that will cover nutrition; managing medications; decision-making; communicating with family, friends and doctors; and evaluating new treatments. Participants will also learn and practice a safe, no-impact exercise program for strength, endurance and flexibility.

The CPSM workshop will meet weekly on Tuesdays, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Jan.  9 through Feb. 20. Call 216-691-7377 to register.

Later this spring, Fairhill Partners will offer Chronic Disease Self-Management (six weekly sessions), and A Matter of Balance—a nationally recognized program that reduces the fear of falling and increases activity levels for older adults.

Trained peer leaders facilitate all of the workshops, which are also offered at Fairhill Partners, 12200 Fairhill Road, in addition to SAC. Learn more by calling Fairhill Partners, 216-421-1350, or e-mailing programs@fairhillpartners.org.

SAC, located in the Cleveland Heights Community Center at 1 Monticello Blvd., offers a variety of programming for those 60 and older, and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. A complete schedule of programs is published in the community center’s newsletter, and available online at www.clevelandheights.com.

SAC membership is $5 for Cleveland Heights residents 60 and older. To sign up, bring a recent piece of mail (such as a bill) and a photo ID.

University Heights residents who would like to join SAC must first register with Patrick Grogan-Myers, University Heights community development coordinator, at 216-932-7800, ext. 203, or pgrogan@universityheights.com. Membership is $10 for University Heights seniors.