Will County Gazette

Village of New Lenox Safe Communities America, Older Adults Falls Prevention Task Group met July 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the task group:

CALL TO ORDER

Linda Bunting called the meeting to order at 1:35pm. This meeting was held via Zoom Videoconference. Introductions were made of all attendees.

IN ATTENDANCE

The Older Adults Falls Prevention Task Group Members in attendance were Dan Martin / Village of New Lenox, Laura Regis, Darlene Purler, Linda Bunting, Diannaha Thompson / CNNSSA Meals on Wheels, Gloria Bodnar, Dominic Ricobene / New Lenox Public Library, Amy Maher/ New Lenox Community Park District, Kathy Beaudry, Lori Gibson / Home for Life Advantage, Inc Michele Deering / Physical Therapist and DeMarcus Wilfong / Sam’s Club, Joliet, IL.

APPROVAL OF May 15, 2024, MEETING MINUTES

The Minutes of the May 15, 2024 Task Group Meeting, which had been disseminated via email to Task Group Members, were discussed. Laura Regis made a motion to approve the minutes, Diannaha Thompson seconded. There was no further discussion. The motion carried and the minutes were approved.

OLD BUSINESS

“Fit and Strong”

This class began on June 3, 2024, and will conclude on July 26, 2024. There is no fee for this class. Classes are held at the Spencer Campus on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30am to 11:00am. The class is full with 30 participants, which is 5 more than the usual 25. Additional equipment and books were procured by Dan Martin. Instructors for the classes are Sarah Zayyad, Colette Loecke, Gloria Bodnar, Dan Martin, Laura Regis, Kathy Beaudry and Darlene Purler. At the end of the last class, the group will enjoy a time of refreshment and socialization,

“Seniors with Sole”

This is a free walking program held at the New Lenox Commons on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30am to 9:30am. This began on June 4, 2024 and will conclude on July 25, 2024 with a time of socialization and gift card give aways. Mercy and Tom Nolan as well as Gloria Bodnar lead this program.

NEW BUSINESS

“One Fall Can Change It All”

The New Lenox VFW Hall has been reserved for this event on Wednesday, September 18, 2024, 7:30am to 12:00pm. We are at capacity of vendors. Christine Ronna, singer/entertainer, will be

singing a variety of Oldies and Motown Hits. Jameka Muhammad will present a program on stretching and common ailments for older adults. Dan Martin is seeking a speaker from the Will County State’s Attorney’s Office, possibly Christine Dowding, to present a program on Elder Fraud. Diannaha has confirmed that Meals on Wheels will provide a hot breakfast for 150 attendees through their providers.

We have five confirmed parties to sponsor the breakfast. Signage suspended from the ceiling for Blood Pressure Screening, Balance Screening, Foot Screening and Vaccinations will be provided by the village. There will be signs near the food area acknowledging the sponsors. DeMarco Wilfong will notify Dan Martin if Sam’s Club will be able to donate water, juice, paper cups, plates and napkins for our event. The “save the date” flyer will be updated, finalized and printed for distribution to advertise the event. The Planning Team includes Colette, Lori, Diannah, Linda, Jameka, Judy and Laura. The next meeting via Zoom will be August 15, 2024, at 11:00am.

Lori will furnish the contact information for a dentist who makes house calls and goes to facilities to provide dental care for older adults. The committee will keep the information for future use.

“A Matter of Balance”

MOB Class #54 will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:30am to 11:30am in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall. This session will commence on September 9, 2024 and end on October 2, 2024. The Wednesday, 9/18 class, will be rescheduled as it conflicts with OFCCA. Dan Martin and Gloria Bodnar will coach.

MOB class #55 will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays, October 8, 2024 through October 31, 2024, at the New Lenox Library from 9:30am to 11:30am. Laura Regis, Kathy Beaudry and Linda Bunting will coach this session.

GOOD OF THE ORDER / UPDATES

Nothing was shared.

NEXT MEETING DATE

The New Lenox Safe Community Coalition meeting will be held on Wednesday, July 31, 2024 at 10:30am via Zoom videoconference.

The next Task Group meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 11, 2024 at 1:30pm, via Zoom videoconference.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 2:13pm.

Older Adults Falls Prevention Task Group

“To reduce injuries and deaths in the older adult population through the utilization of evidence based and other programs designed to reduce falls and the fear of falling.”

https://www.newlenox.net/files/documents/SafeCommunitiesAmericaTaskGroupsMinutes07-17-24101500071924AM1352.pdf