August 31, 1997

Senior Citizens Here Stay Young With Brain Exercise

The bromide, "You can't teach an old dog new tricks," is not true hereabouts. Senior citizens have found many opportunities to enrich their golden years through new mental accomplishments.

Dr. James A. Mortimer, director of the University of South Florida Institute On Aging and an authority on Alzheimer's Syndrome, says exercising the brain by study minimizes memory loss of old age.

This should be good news to local oldsters because of several educational programs designed especially for them. Charlotte County has the nation's largest over-65 population.

First at bat for the Fall season is a 17-year pioneer in the life-long-learning process -- Florida Southern College's Charlotte-DeSoto branch. Fiercely loyal alumni call it "the biggest small college in Florida."

The FSC branch, one of three, is unusual. Its students must be at least 40 years old. They can earn a Bachelor of Arts degree in only three years because of a single package of coordinated courses and credit for some previous college or "life experience."

The upcoming scholastic season features "The World And Its Religions" in the Fall semester, and "Civilization's Great Ideas" in the Spring.

Fall classes get underway September 8 and will be held from 8 a.m to noon, Mondays through Fridays. Evening classes are split -- 6 p.m. to 8, and 8 to 10, Mondays through Thursdays.

Cost for the degree is among the lowest in Florida because the faculty is comprised largely of volunteers -- retired professors, educators and administrators who also enjoy the mental stimulation. Courses may be audited without credit at a greatly reduced price.

Dr. Ernest Capstack, director, says age is no criteria for absorbing knowledge. One student was graduated at age 89, and a current enrollee is 93. Last year, 92 students were enrolled and 27 graduated with degrees.

Classes are held at the Charlotte-DeSoto retreat-style campus at King's Highway and State Road 761.

Counseling and registration for the Fall semester will be conducted on campus this Thursday from 9 a.m to 3 p.m, and 6 p.m. to 8. Friday registration will be 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

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October will usher in other, less focused, educational opportunities for seniors.

A complimentary coffee to learn about the University of South Florida's popular six-session Learning In Retirement program will be hosted by the Charlotte Foundation on Wednesday, October l, 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the Edison Community College auditorium.

Three classes will be conducted there by qualified, local lecturers starting October 14, 15 and 16. Each class will last two hours, including discussion, and extend over a six- week period. A small fee for each class is charged for administration.

Learning In Retirement is associated with the national Elderhostel Institute Network. It is a community-based organization of volunteer retirees guided by two principles -- peer learning and active participation.

The topics and lecturers for the Fall sessions are:

• "An Inside Look At U.S. Foreign Policy," conducted by Fred Cooper.
  
• "The Natural Environment of Southwest Florida," conducted by Joy Duperault, Robert Hamlin, and Monica Dorken.
  
• "Learning To Love Shakespeare," conducted by Dr. Hugh Burns.

The program is guided locally by Jack Price, executive director of the Charlotte County Foundation, and by an LIR advisory board of 20 civic leaders.

LIR programs are offered in two other Florida communities by USF. That here was inspired by the Charlotte County Foundation seeding grant to USF for a 10-year study on healthy aging.

Though LIR is not part of the healthy aging project, mental stimulation is recognized as an important element in an active old age.

Hundreds of retirees in this area will be randomly selected for long-range studies of life styles and clinical tests. The objective is to determine why some older people continue healthy and mentally alert past the norm.

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Another October starter is the Learning Place classes at the Port Charlotte Cultural Center where you can pick and choose. Fees are nominal.

This outstanding facility, managed by Executive Director Marcus Johnson, has catered to senior citizens for 37 years. Retired educator Dr. Robert Lynch supervises the learning program.

It, too, owes its success to the hundreds of volunteers who help make old age graceful and enjoyable. A vital element is the 145 classes in leisure activity classes conducted by retirees who are expert in their fields.

Whatever interests you, there is a class for beginners or experienced -- either as pupil or instructor. Topics range from basic computer operation to aerobics, literature to electronic keyboard, quilting to stamp collecting.

Popular classes are "Growing Young Wisely" and "Natural Health For Your Family." There are even "Fun Time Gymnastics" classes in the evenings for grandchildren while Grandpa and Grandma learn line dancing.

There is little wonder that up to 3,000 enrollments make learning at the Cultural Center a pleasure. Registrations now are being accepted for classes beginning October 6.

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For those senior citizens wanting to pick up a few credits to complete an unfinished college course, Edison Community College offers a wide-range of subjects at its beautiful Punta Gorda campus.

Retirees who would like to learn a new skill with which to augment their pension can do so at "Vo-tech" in Port Charlotte. The Charlotte Vocational Technical Center is rated the best vocational school in the U.S. Southeast.

With the American population growing relatively older-- and Social Security and Medicare facing serious financial problems -- Charlotte County's mental-growth opportunities for senior citizens is more than an amusement to occupy time.

It is the wave of the future.

PARTING SHOTS

You know you're getting old when:

• You feel like the morning after the night before, but you haven't been anywhere.
  
• You know all the answers, but nobody asks the questions.
  
• Your knees buckle, but your belt won't.
  
• A middle-aged lady offers to help you across the street.
  
• You've finally got it all together, but you can't remember where you put it.

By Lindsey Williams, columnist for Sun Coast Media Group newspapers