The brain has plasticity and can grow at any age – if you use it.
Seniors in Oklahoma City took this “use or lose it” message seriously all year long.
More than 55 people every month took advantage of free sessions called Senior LifeSkills Learning workshops. These are the people, age 50 and more, who take personal responsibility for continued learning. Senior LifeSkills Learning topics ranged from “How to Fall Correctly” to “Get a Grip on Improving Your Brain,” to “Insider Tips on Doctors Visits” and much more. All the presentations are based on approved and tested research, but presented for practical application and in “plain English.”
One of the popular workshops involved identifying and differentiating certain smells. This demonstrates strong brain activity. The sense of smell is one of the first things to change as Alzheimer’s disease takes root, even before other symptoms appear. The workshop offered a simple but valid standardized “scratch and sniff” screening to encourage intentional training of the brain to recognize smells.
VillagesOKC organizes and promotes these monthly 90-minute events in cooperation with Our Lord’s Lutheran Church which provides the space.
In order to circle the city with learning opportunities, VillagesOKC also created three Positive Aging days of learning at local campuses. The first Positive Aging was held at Rose State College, then in June one was held at Southern Nazarene University, and most recently Positive Aging: Love Your Brain was held at MetroTech Springlake campus. Combined attendance at the Positive Aging and LifeSkills Learning events totaled 839.
More than 220 individuals came for a day of learning from local professionals such as Bruce McIntyre from the Parkinson’s Foundation and Richard V. Smith, MD, Neurosurgeon at Mercy. Dr. Smith gave the latest in stroke information and prevention. Dr. Jonathan Vestal reminded attendees to “do what you did at first” – hold your head high, look straight ahead when walking, shake hands often and break bread together. He even had the crowd standing on one foot to improve balance. These daylong events were free and included a light lunch and a movie. All had one focus: improving the brain.
Everyone wants a better brain. The Netflix documentary, “Living to 100” illustrates how people around the world are living long and living well. And it all starts in the brain.
The brain represents who we are, which is why so many are eager to learn about ways to improve the brain. In the last Positive Aging event of the year, we watched the documentary, “My Love Affair with the Brain,” which is the story of Dr. Marian Diamond and her 60 years of brain research and teaching at the University of California at Berkeley. She succinctly summarized the way to keep the brain growing and improving: diet, exercise, something new, something challenging and love.
Here in Oklahoma, there are many organizations which do a magnificent job of helping when seniors are in need or in crisis. Although VillagesOKC members do help each other as good neighbors, VillagesOKC’s focus is uniquely education. We are in the business of prevention. Empowering the 370,000 adults 50 and older in greater Oklahoma City to first take personal responsibility and then help another as the very best way to provide for everyone. The village movement encourages learning so each can make the best personal choice. Learning leads to planning for the bumps in life and this leads to serving others.
In three words, VillagesOKC members: Learn. Plan. Serve.
To learn more about http://www.villagesokc.org/, call or text 405.990.6637 or email [email protected].

RIVERMONT INDEPENDENT LIVING IN NORMAN ANNOUNCES THE NUMBER OF RESIDENTS SERVED REACHES 999 … 1,000!

Rivermont Independent Living, a residence of Legend Senior
Living®, announced today that the number of residents who have made the community their home has reached 1,000. Residents 999 and 1,000 are husband and wife, Bill and JoAnn Oliver, so they share the title. Legend Senior Living, headquartered in Wichita, KS, owns and operates over 50 Legend and Windsor residences in six states.
The Olivers are lifelong Oklahoma residents who have been married for 66 years. They have two children, three grandchildren, and eight great-grandchildren. Bill worked for the U.S. Postal Service at various places in Oklahoma, performing training. They settled in Norman when the postal training center opened here.
“What we like most about Rivermont is the atmosphere and the people,” said Bill. “All the people are accepting of others that come in. The food is good! And we enjoy the ability to sit outside and enjoy the outdoors.”
Joann cites going out to eat as their favorite activity and appreciates the Rivermont location, out of the hustle and bustle of the metro area but close to many good places to eat and things to do.
Plus, easy highway access takes them straight up the road to their church, the Alameda Church of Christ.
“We’re so happy to have Bill and Joann at Rivermont,” said Residence Director Rita Myers. “And we’re proud to have served many older adults with the Legend trademark of vibrant independent living. The Olivers make the most of it!”
“Our daughter was a big influence in our choice of Rivermont, and we’re so glad we chose so well,” said Joann. The Olivers have been avid travelers throughout Europe and Colorado on many off-roading and skiing adventures. Living at Rivermont allows them to maintain their active lifestyle minus the home maintenance.
Rivermont Independent Living is located at 800 Canadian Trails Dr, Norman, Oklahoma 73072.
Legend Senior Living® is a privately held senior housing and services company based in Wichita, Kansas. Legend grows the number of properties it owns and operates every year, now numbering more than 50 – independent living, assisted living, memory care, and personal care – in Florida, Colorado, Texas, Kansas, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania.

For more information about Legend Senior Living® visit https://legendseniorliving.com/find-a-community/oklahoma/

Beth Patterson to Retire After 41 Years of Matching Older Adults with Meaningful Volunteer Opportunities

A come-and-go retirement party is scheduled to honor long-time RSVP of Central Oklahoma Executive Director Beth Patterson. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Thursday, December 14 at 351 N. Air Depot Blvd., Suite O, Midwest City. Patterson will retire at the end of December.
This year, RSVP of Central Oklahoma celebrated 50 years in the community matching older adults with meaningful and rewarding volunteer opportunities. Patterson has led the organization for 41 of its 50 years.
During her four decades, Patterson has linked the skills and talents of 6,700 older Oklahomans with more than 500 local nonprofit organizations in need of volunteer support. In the time under her direction, the volunteer members who make up RSVP have contributed 8.9 million volunteer hours to help make central Oklahoma a stronger and healthier community.
“As we reflect on Beth’s years of service and her unflagging dedication to improving and celebrating the lives of older Oklahomans throughout Central Oklahoma, we are reminded of the incredible impact of her kindness and compassion that spreads so far beyond what we can measure,” said RSVP Associate Director Laura McRaniels.
Patterson moved to Oklahoma from Minnesota in 1984. She and her husband, Kelly, recently celebrated 36 years of marriage. They have three grown sons, and three grandchildren. Patterson is a community volunteer member, having served as a volunteer with Catholic Daughters, Meta Fund, Relay for Life, and currently with the Midwest City Lions Club.
In case of inclement weather, the retirement party will be held on December 19.
Since 1973, RSVP of Central Oklahoma has helped older adults 55+ continue to live with purpose and meaning by connecting them with rewarding community volunteer opportunities. RSVP is a partner of AmeriCorps Seniors and the United Way of Central Oklahoma. To learn more about becoming a volunteer, call Laura McRaniels at 405.605.3110 or visit rsvpokc.org. You can also follow RSVP on Facebook at facebook.com/RSVPokc.

The Oklahoma History Center Museum will have pieces of silver service from the USS Oklahoma on display starting Monday, November 27, to commemorate the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor. The complete set consists of 55 pieces. Only select pieces will be available for public view.
On December 7, 1941, the USS Oklahoma was one of eight battleships docked at the Pearl Harbor Naval Base in Honolulu, Hawaii, when it came under attack by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service. The USS Oklahoma suffered 429 casualties, and the battleship capsized due to multiple torpedo strikes.
The tradition of creating presentation silver sets for American warships of the “first rank” began with the USS Maine in the late 1890s. Continuing this tradition, the Oklahoma Legislature appropriated $7,500 in 1913 to create a silver service to express the state’s pride in having a new battleship named for the state. It was designed by Walter Dean of Oklahoma City and executed by Gorham Silversmiths of New York. The USS Oklahoma was christened on March 23, 1914, and the service was presented to the ship at that time. The service was used on the battleship from 1914 until 1941 but was removed before the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and stored at the Puget Sound Shipyard in Bremerton, Washington. In 1946 after World War II, the Oklahoma Historical Society appointed a committee to find the silver service and return it to the state. In 1947 the U.S. Navy loaned the silver service to the Oklahoma Historical Society. After thorough polishing and repair, it went on public display.
The Oklahoma History Center is located at 800 Nazih Zuhdi Dr. in Oklahoma City. It is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Please call 405-522-0765 or visit https://www.okhistory.org/historycenter/ for admission costs and group rates.

The City of Norman’s Adult Wellness and Education Center opened its doors to the community at on November 13, marking a significant milestone in the ongoing Norman Forward Quality of Life Initiative. This event was eagerly anticipated and took place at 602 N. Findlay Avenue in Norman.
The ribbon-cutting will happened at 11 a.m. with an art dedication for a mural in the natatorium entitled “Vibrant Connections” by Oklahoma artists Tiffany McKnight and Aunj Braggs taking place immediately after. “Vibrant Connections” celebrates the interconnectedness of people through a colorful palette set against an Oklahoma landscape. A luminous path symbolizes shared experiences that unite us, guiding us towards a destiny of togetherness and understanding.
Operated by Healthy Living Norman, the Adult Wellness and Education Center is a state-of-the-art facility designed to promote wellness, education, and community engagement. With a wide range of programs, classes, and services to enhance the well-being of adults 50 or better in the Norman area, this center is a cornerstone of the community.
“We believe that a healthy community is a thriving community. The Adult Wellness and Education Center will serve as a hub for adults in Norman to come together, learn, and grow, promoting a stronger, more vibrant Norman,” said Jason Olsen, Director of Parks and Recreation. “We’re grateful to Healthy Living for their partnership in bringing this center to fruition. Together, we’re shaping a healthier, happier future for Norman, one person at a time.”
The project has been in the preliminary process for over a decade, reflecting the city’s dedication to creating a facility that truly serves its residents. Input from various parts of the community has been a crucial aspect of the design process, with surveys, workshops, and ad-hoc boards providing valuable insights and shaping the center to meet the community’s diverse needs. The $14 million facility includes a walking track, warm saltwater pool, multi-purpose rooms for classes and exercise, cardio equipment, several classrooms for art, a strength training area, and a teaching kitchen, all housed within a spacious over 30,000 sq. foot facility.
Among the many programs and activities offered at the center are personal training, group exercise classes, pickleball, drawing and painting, pottery, mixed media, floral design, and healthy cooking classes. In addition to these enriching programs, the center will host events such as seminars, movie nights, and festivals.
The grand opening marked the beginning of a new era in the community for the adult residents of Norman. Attendees enjoyed live music, informative facility demonstrations, and a local food truck will be on site.
For more information about memberships, classes, and the Adult Wellness and Education Center, please visit https://www.healthylivingnorman.com/. To find out more about the ribbon-cutting ceremony, contact the Norman Parks and Recreation Department at 405-366-5472 or [email protected].

Oklahoma woman battles a rare and debilitating disease

Story and photo by Jake Strickbine, contributing writer

We tend to take for granted things — things like our ability to walk or to tie our own shoes — until we can no longer do those things.
Emily Rogec lives that reality, and she is grateful for every movement she can still make.
Diagnosed at just six years old with a rare disorder that attacks the nervous system, the Purcell woman was in a wheelchair by 12. Friedrich’s Ataxia is so rare it impacts only one in every 50,000 people in this country.
“It’s progressive,” said Tracy Weidman, Emily’s mom. “It doesn’t just affect her walking. It’s her hands. It’s her throat. It’s her heart. It’s anything that’s muscle.”
The odds may be stacked against her, but Emily is now 27 and proves every day that she is a fighter. Emily has also found a powerful ally in Taylor Marcum, a physical therapist at Valir PT in Purcell.
“Emily’s disease affects the nervous system. So, it affects her physically, but mentally, she is sharp as a tack and witty,” Marcum explained.
Marcum admits she had not heard of Friedrich’s Ataxia before meeting Emily, but she has worked to learn more about the condition. Using that knowledge, Marcum has developed a program to help Emily retain movement.
“I think it helps with my core and a little bit with strength,” Emily said with great effort. Even the ability to talk is impacted by her disease.
Using her knowledge and skills as a physical therapist, Marcum targets specific areas of the body to help Emily maintain as much independence as possible. Her mom has seen the positive changes firsthand.
“Physically, she can hold things better,” said Weidman. “When we’re working with her hands, when I need to pick her up to transfer her, her muscles are working a little bit better. It just kind of gives her a better quality of life.”
In addition to helping with strength and movement, physical therapy helps target the pain Emily experiences as a result of sitting in a wheelchair all day.
Emily believes the team at Valir and the work they are doing together is making a difference.
“It helps my muscles contract a lot and I do think my arms are getting a little bit stronger with some of the exercises we do,” she said.
Each small gain is a big victory against a debilitating disease.
“I think for us to be able to help her in any way, shape or form that we can, whether it’s sitting more upright in her wheelchair or getting stronger – anything we can do to improve her quality of life is just a reward for everyone,” Marcum said.
Although there is no cure for Friedrich’s Ataxia, with the help of the team at Valir PT in Purcell, Emily plans to do all she can to fight back. And she remains grateful for every movement she can still make.

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