OU Health Sciences Center Offering Online Classes for Older Adults During COVID-19 Pandemic

The University of Oklahoma (OU) Health Sciences Center is using technology to offer online classes to seniors across the state during the COVID-19 pandemic, reports KFOR . "The very action that can protect people from the COVID-19 virus — socially distancing from other people — brings the potential to send older adults spiraling into loneliness," warned the center. OU Medicine's Lee Jennings acknowledged that "we needed to think creatively about how we can continue our programming, but also gear it toward helping older adults and their caregivers during this time." The class offerings cover a wide range of topics, including diabetes self-management, chronic disease management, tai chi for better balance, brain health, consulting with doctors, tools for caregivers, and strategies for maintaining activity and independence. In addition, the Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative (OHAI) is live-streaming five classes daily on its Facebook page, while the Oklahoma Dementia Care Network is using the Zoom videoconferencing platform for its classes. "We are hopeful the Facebook Live and interactive Zoom classes will help to address the isolation and loneliness that older Oklahomans are feeling during this time," said Paula Cockrell with OHAI's Central Oklahoma Center of Healthy Aging.