You At Your Best

8 | YOU AT YOUR beST | nWADg.cOm/YOUATYOURbeST OcTObeR - WOmen'S HeAlTH | SATURDAY, SepTembeR 30, 2017 Katherine's Place promotes independence and choice By sarah haney nWa DemoCrat-Gazette Katherine's Place at Wedington is a place where neighbors become friends and where everyday living is enhanced by meaningful things to do. Located at 4405 W. Persimmon St., in Fayetteville, Katherine's Place employs specialists in the art of caring who have taken the traditional approach to aging and replaced it with a setting that is much more like a community. Open since August 2010, Katherine's Place provides a home-like environment for short-term and long-term residents while promoting individualized care. Elders at Katherine's Place live in a community with individual neighborhoods, completely recreating the culture of long-term care. Residents are able to choose just how much independence they wish to enjoy, whether it's helping plan a meal, helping cook a meal or setting a table. It may be helping plan an activity or social event or taking part in a resident council meeting. With this liberating and innovative approach to their care, it is entirely up to the elders. Specialties at Katherine's Place include onsite physical, speech and occupational therapy in a large rehabilitation gym boasting up-to- date exercise equipment, an audiology chamber, full kitchen and outdoor walking and therapy trails. From the grand exterior and front entrance to the impressive lobby all the way to the magnifi cent fountain in the courtyard, Katherine's Place at Wedington provides all the comforts of home surrounded by amenities not found in traditional long-term care settings. The facilities boast spacious private and semi-private rooms, with common hearth areas and dining rooms the center of activity. Elegant spa areas and whirlpool rooms are available for elders who prefer a bit of pampering. Outside, a vast, park-style courtyard offers walking trails, benches, a grilling area and covered pavilion — all tucked within attractive landscaping in a quiet setting. Inside, a ballroom-style dining room, common hearth areas, visiting spaces, activity areas and a café round out the amenities while a surround- sound theater experience with 32-inch fl at screen televisions and expanded cable services make the picture complete. In addition to the main quarters, two separate and fully staffed neighborhoods provide for enhanced long-term care for elders that seek added independence. A security system includes a 24-hour alarm, video monitoring and key-pad coded exterior doors for elder safety. Katherine's Place has a mission to create an environment of home and community with respect and dignity, while promoting independence and choice. For more information, please call (479) 444-6108. Strength training important to women's health metro Creative serviCes Women's bodies are built different from men's to accommodate the changes of pregnancy and childbirth. Although women may store fat differently and have less muscle mass than men, it's still important that women include weight resistance training in their exercise routines. Lifting weights is an important part of staying fi t. Yet many women do not pick up weights out of fear of bulking up and gaining weight. In a 2011 opinion poll conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, less than 20 percent of women said they accomplished the CDC's recommended 2.5 hours of aerobic exercise and two periods of strength training each week. Contrary to popular belief, women who weight train will not turn into the bulking behemoths of competitive weight lifting. The Women's Heart Foundation says that high levels of estrogen make it quite diffi cult for women to become overly muscular. When they strength train, rather, women's muscles will improve in tone, endurance and strength instead of size. Resistance training provides an effi cient way to build strength and burn calories. A study from researchers at the University of New Mexico found that the body will take between 15 minutes and 48 hours after exercise to return to a resting state. That means that a person continues to burn calories after exercising, a phenomenon known as "after-burn" or "excess post-exercise oxygen consumption." The more intense the workout, the longer the after-burn may last. Studies performed at the Quincy, Mass., South Shore YMCA found that the average woman who strength trains two to three times a week for two months will gain nearly two pounds of muscle, but lose 3.5 pounds of fat. With that lean muscle addition, resting metabolism increases and more calories can be burned each day. The following are some additional benefi ts of strength training. • Reduces risk of heart disease by lowering LDL cholesterol and increasing HDL cholesterol. • Builds stronger muscles and connective tissues that can increase joint stability. • Improves the way the body processes sugar, which can help reduce the risk of diabetes. • Reduces rates of depression. A Harvard University study found that 10 weeks of strength training reduced clinical depression symptoms more successfully than standard counseling. Women who strength train commonly report feeling more confi dent and capable. Women with no strength training experience can consult with a personal trainer who can teach them proper strength training form. This ensures that the exercises are being done effi ciently while reducing the women's risk of injury. Qualifi ed trainers also can keep people moving toward fi tness goals.

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