Joyce Raye Patterson Center offers support for new goals

By Charles Christian

A local activity center aims to help older adults keep their resolutions for the new year.

The Joyce Raye Patterson 50+ Activity Center in Downtown St. Joseph provides an array of opportunities for older adults. Members have access to workout facilities, meeting rooms, weekly games and educational opportunities. Manager Julie Noel said all of these are meant to provide a safe place for older adults to live their best lives.

“We are looking forward to increasing participation in our fitness center,” Noel said. “Currently, we have quite a few fitness classes but we would like to add to that schedule, as well,” she said.

Noel said the variety of classes is meant to address every fitness level.

“We don’t want anyone to feel left out,” she said.

Each potential member is given a complete tour of the machines before joining to ensure a thorough understanding of how each works. Plus, staff members are on hand to answer questions.

However, the center offers more than just workout machines and classes.

“Most of our members are very active people, and the reason they come here is to stay active, to stay social and to stay healthy,” Noel said.

So the wide variety of activities, including pool tables, chair aerobics, pickle ball and bridge tournaments, is meant to provide a range of physical activity and personal connections for complete health. This includes a new chronic pain self-management program, which started on Jan. 4 and meets weekly at 2 p.m. at the center.

Noel said the center aims to make it easier for older adults to keep new goals.

“It’s nice to come to the JRP, because the environment here is not intimidating at all,” Noel said. “We have folks here who will help people if they’re not sure how to use a piece of equipment. In fact, we take people through and actually show them how to use every piece.”

As far as goal-setting for the new year, Noel suggests people start with small, achievable plans and make sure to note the progress. Once the smaller goals are accomplished, Noel said, move on to another. This will keep people from being overwhelmed.

Noel added that having people around who also are working toward new goals and connecting regularly with them can keep healthy habits going. That, she said, is why the Joyce Raye Patterson Center exists.

For more information, check out the Joyce Raye Patterson 50+ Activity Center on Facebook or call 816-271-4666.