If you haven't experienced being on a rowing team, joining a travel club, or competing in a weight lifting competition, then some of the residents of Spanish Cove will tell you it's never too late to start! N20...Never Too Old!
It's proven that being active and staying engaged keeps the mind and body healthier, longer. Spanish Cove has created a very unique group in which residents can brainstorm ideas for improving on products and services used by seniors. The purpose of "N2O" is to assist seniors to be able to live independently in their homes longer. "It's about innovation not invention, redesigning common items in a creative way for better use," says CEO, Don Blose, who was inspired to create the group at the Cove. The group identifies challenges of daily life then discusses how these might be improved. Prototypes are then constructed by student groups from Oklahoma State University, OU College of Engineering, and Canadian Valley Vo-Tech. This gives residents and students a chance to connect and engage with each other which is an enjoyable outcome for participants. One current project that Oklahoma State students are working on is a "hydro-snack", a snack which would hydrate & replenish needed electrolytes and vitamins. This would be most beneficial for people with
dementia, who oftentimes don't think of or recognize thirst which can lead to health issues. The N2O group proposed the hydro-snack because people will habitually reach for snacks in a bowl, giving people an alternative that may be easier to incorporate in their daily life. This is just one of the many ideas that might soon become a reality to improve the lives of an aging population. Beyond the successful product outcomes is a less tangible benefit—creating an exciting opportunity for seniors to stay engaged and use their minds. Seniors are sometimes stereotyped as less productive or less useful. Seniors are in fact our most experienced community members, and include brilliant minds ready to contribute. N2O is a chance for members to trigger their imagination and creativity. "N2O is also the symbol for nitrous oxide, or laughing gas," Don pointed out. "This group is about having fun and there is definitely laughter, so we're going with that!" Read more about Spanish Cove's expansion and upcoming events on pages 34 and 35.
Join the Spirit Club —you don't have to be a resident to enjoy many of the Spanish Cove classes and activities! Spirit Club members get priority to events which fill up fast. Call Jill at (405) 354-5906 to sign up & join the fun!
11 Palm Ave.,Yukon I www.spanishcove.com © OKLAHOMA SENIOR JOURNAL 2019-20
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