Mind and Body Fitness Program

The Mind and Body Fitness Program is sponsored through a Recognition Grant from the Kansas Health Foundation. Recognition Grants are targeted for organizations and agencies proposing meaningful and charitable projects that fit within the Foundation’s mission of improving the health of all Kansans.

The purpose of Mind and Body Fitness is to organize and develop a structured, multi-strategy wellness program that is specific to the needs of older adults in a rural setting with an intergenerational component. Mind and Body Fitness includes physical, social, intellectual and service related strategies between older adults and young people.

The anticipated benefits through these programs include increase in memory, problem solving, using technology, storytelling and help with dealing with depression, isolation and loneliness.

Counties served by this program include; Anderson, Coffey, Franklin, Linn, Miami and Osage. The target population of this program is for older adults, 60 and over, and elementary through college age students.

Intergenerational Projects

Lunch Bunch Program

Lunch bunch program is an intergenerational activity where older adults and youth meet together during the summer, play games and have lunch together.

Life Story Program

Life stories are intergenerational projects that allow older adults to tell their life story through an interview process to young people. Stories are compiled into bound booklets and then presented to each storyteller.

Computer Class Program

Young adults meet with seniors (over 60) in the summer to cover basics such as computer skills, cell phones, Facebook, etc. The young adults help the seniors with any technical difficulties they might have. This intergenerational activity is beneficial for both the young adults and the seniors.

Greeting Cards/Ornaments Program

Different youth groups help to organize and mail greeting cards for older adults in all of our six counties: Anderson, Coffey, Franklin, Linn, Miami and Osage. The youth also assist in helping to create, organize and deliver personalized holiday ornaments.

Legal Services Program

Legal service is provided using attorneys from Kansas Legal Services to help in drafting wills, living wills and power of attorney documents to help reduce stress and anxiety for older adults. This program is free for adults over 60 years of age.

Other Projects

Other projects include mentoring and tutoring as well as teaching students how to play games such as chess, checkers, jacks, Scrabble, etc. We are also interested in hearing from you if you have any other ideas of different projects we could try.

Volunteer Opportunities

Various volunteer opportunities are available here at ECKAAA. If you have a particular interest in an area you would consider volunteering, please contact us. By volunteering you can help connect people and help promote the value of community service.

Deb Henningsen is our Health and Wellness Specialist.

Deb can be reached at (785) 242-7123, Ext. 105 or heart@eckaaa.org