Fort Smith

West Central Center on Aging

Patty Clark

Patricia Clark, MBA, BSN, RN, HCS-D
Education Director — paclark@uams.edu

Kristi Cowell, B.S., RN, Outreach Coordinator – KCowell@uams.edu

Lana Howard, Administrative Assistant — ljhoward@uams.edu

2414 South 57th Street, Suite 124, Fort Smith AR 72903

479-478-8819

Alzheimer’s/Dementia Programs

Support Groups

Offering regularly scheduled support groups for individuals caring for older adults in the home, in particular, those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.

Family Caregiver Workshops

Shot of a young woman going for a walk with her elderly mother in the garden

Free four-hour workshops offered in the community designed to increase family members’ knowledge of caregiving for older adults in the home. We offer an Alzheimer’s/Dementia Workshop and a Physical Skills Workshop. Workshops can be scheduled at your location for groups of ten or more. This workshop is provided by the UAMS Schmieding Home Caregiver Training Program curriculum.

Alzheimer’s Experience/ A Walk in Their Shoes

Dementia and Occupational Therapy - Home caregiver and senior adult woman

This tour is designed to simulate the symptoms that are experienced by an Alzheimer’s/Dementia patient. The experience typically takes about 10 minutes per person and can be offered in multiple settings including special events, faith-based organizations, businesses catering to the senior population and medical facilities.

Physical/Exercise Programs

A Matter of Balance

A Matter of Balance teaches older adults practical ways to reduce the risk of falling. The class, which features 8 two-hour sessions teaches participants to view falls and fear of falling as controllable; set realistic goals to increase physical activity; change their home setting to reduce fall risk factors; & exercise to increase strength and balance.

Ageless Grace

Teacher and active senior women yoga class on chairs, arms raised,

A group fitness and wellness program that consists of 21 simple exercise tools that are designed for all ages and focuses on exercising the body and mind.

Drums Alive

Elderly women holding dumbbells during group exercise class for senior citizens

This is a group fitness program that combines traditional exercises with music to stimulate the body and mind.

Tai Chi

A multiethnic, coed group of various ages works out together outside in the early morning as the sun rises. They are doing a stretching exercise with their arms extended out in front of them.

This exercise program is designed to improve balance, stability, posture, strength and decrease the risk of falls. Studies have found it to be effective in promoting mental health and cognitive function as well.

Nutrition and Healthy Eating

Diabetes Empowerment Education Program (DEEP)

A diverse group of students are indoors in a university. They are taking night classes. A Caucasian senior woman is in front, and she is smiling while watching the lecture.

Participants will attend 6 weekly, two-hour learning sessions where they will get hands-on training in order to better understand food labels, meal planning and other aspects of diabetes care.

Healthy Cooking

Older woman tossing a salad and her husband stirring food in a pot, cooking healthy together

Learn how to shop for and prepare diabetic-friendly meals.

Social

Connect and Learn

Various programs offered on a variety of topics geared toward the health of senior adults as they age.