OHAI Classes
Oklahoma Healthy Aging Initiative is a statewide network focusing on improving the health of older adults from across the state through caregiver training and health promotion education.
Looking for a class close to you? See below for classes in your region.
.jpg)
Northwest Southwest Central Northeast Southeast
Class Listings
Dementia Dialogues (Coming in 2025)
This 5 module training course is designed to educate community members and caregivers (formal or informal) for persons who exhibit signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
Savvy Caregiver (Coming in 2025)
In collaboration with the Oklahoma Health Brain Initiative, OKDCN will be providing the 6 week Savvy Caregiver series in 2025.
Savvy Caregiver empowers caregivers by enabling them to:
- Gain a better understanding of Alzheimer’s and related dementias
- Develop self-care strategies
- Learn skills and strategies to successfully provide daily activities of “Contented Involvement” for their family member living with dementia.
- Identify and engage family and other resources for care-related assistance and support.
Healthy Brain, Healthy Mind for the Caregiver
Healthy Brain, Healthy Mind for the Dementia Caregiver is designed to assist professional and family caregivers in understanding the many ways they can maintain a healthy brain. Caregivers will also come away with tools to assist them in caring for themselves while caring for others.
- Class Length: 1 hour per week
- Course Length: 4 weeks
- Location: Virtual and in-person options
Healthy Brain, Healthy Mind
Healthy Brain, Healthy Mind helps older adults understand the many ways they can maintain a healthy brain. Through twelve different methods - such as establishing good habits and routines, physical activity and nutrition - participants will learn how to improve their physical and mental health.
- Class Length: 1 hour per week
- Course Length: 4 weeks
- Location: Virtual and in-person options
Healthier Choices, Healthier You
Healthier Choices, Healthier You is designed for individuals and caregivers who have chronic health problems. Classes help you deal with issues such as pain, fatigue and inability to sleep. Instructors share activities that will help improve strength, exercise, endurance and safe use of medications. The presentation also will cover ways to communicate effectively with family, friends and health professionals.
- Class Length: 2.5 hours hour per week
- Course Length: 6 weeks
- Location: Virtual and in-person options
Powerful Tools for Caregivers
Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a class series designed to help family caregivers take better care of themselves while caring for a family member or friend. In the six weekly classes, caregivers develop a wealth of self-care tools to reduce stressors, change negative self-talk, communicate their needs to family members and healthcare or service providers, effectively communicate in challenging situations, deal with difficult feelings, and make tough caregiving decisions. Class participants also receive a copy of The Caregiver Help book developed specifically for the training.
- Class Length: 1.5 hours
- Course Length: 6 weeks
- Location: Virtual and in-person options
DSMP (Diabetes Self-Management Program)
DSMP is a class for individuals and their caregivers who are dealing with Type 2 diabetes. The class teaches ways to cope with the symptoms of this type of diabetes, including healthy eating and proper use of medication, as well as how to improve strength and endurance. You also will learn better ways to control your diabetes – and through sharing your experiences with classmates, help others solve problems related to the disease.
- Class Length: 2.5 hours per week
- Course Length: 6 weeks
- Location: Virtual and in-person options
Eat Better, Move More
The Eat Better, Move More program is for older adults and their caregivers. Instructors will show ways to improve your nutrition, as well as how to find simple, fun ways to introduce movement and exercise into everyday routines. Through this class, older adults will develop a plan that can improve quality of life.
- Class Length: 1 hour per week
- Course Length: 12 weeks
- Location: Virtual and in-person options
Tai Chi
The movements of Tai Chi help older adults reduce their risk of falling, while also increasing balance and flexibility. Participants learn ways to improve their overall mind, body and spirit through a series of slow, continuous movements. It does not matter how strong, flexible or active you are – Tai Chi is designed for people at all levels of health.
- Class Length: 1 hour, twice per week
- Course Length: 12 weeks
- Location: Virtual and in-person options
Walk With Ease
The Walk with Ease program is designed for people interested in walking in groups. Sessions begin with a short discussion important to successful walking or arthritis management. Participants will develop an individual walking plan, learn stretching techniques and tips to improve current mobility and endurance. The information and strategies are based on research in arthritis management, exercise science, and behavior change.
- Class Length: 1 hour
- Course Length: 12 classes
- Location: Virtual and in-person options
Talking With Your Doctor
This interactive workshop teaches caregivers how to communicate more effectively with health care professionals, enabling participants to advocate on behalf of a friend or family member in their care. You will gain information on the benefits and challenges of the medical system, while also learning a team approach to providing overall care.
- Class Length: 1 hour
- Course Length: 1 class
- Location: Virtual and in-person options
Using Medications Safely
This program is designed to empower older adults to be more active participants
in decisions regarding their medications. Through learning about all aspects
of medications, these adults can significantly reduce the likelihood of
experiencing a drug-related problem.
Check out our YouTube video for
Using Medications Safely, A Key Ingredient to Your Health,
here.
- Class Length: 1 hour
- Course Length: 1 class
- Location: Virtual and in-person options
Staying Active and Independent For Life (SAIL)
Staying Active and Independent for Life (SAIL) is a fitness program for older adults, which can be done sitting or standing. Performing exercise that improves strength, balance and fitness is critical for staying active and reducing the risk of falls. The SAIL program was designed with these principals in mind. Each class includes warm-up, stretching, cardio, balance, and strengthening exercise, as well as a cool down.
- Class Length: 1 hour, twice per week
- Course Length: 12 weeks
- Location: Virtual and in-person options
Eye Ball 101
Eye Ball 101 is a one hour comprehensive overview of eye health and an overview of the four main medical conditions that affect eyesight among older adults. The presentation is designed to benefit all older adults and is delivered without a reliance on heavy medical jargon. Eye Ball 101 is a course that was developed in partnership with the Dean McGee Eye Institute on the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Campus.
- Class Length: 1 hour
- Course Length: 1 class
- Location: Virtual and in-person options
A Matter of Balance
Many older adults experience a fear of falling. Individuals who develop this fear often limit their activities, which can result in physical weakness, making the risk of falling even worse. The Matter of Balance class includes eight sessions where individuals learn to view falls as controllable, set goals for increasing activity levels, make changes to reduce fall risk at home and exercises to increase strength and balance- Class Length: 1 hour per week
- Course Length: 12 weeks
- Location: Virtual and in-person options
Diabetes & Beyond
Based on the principles of empowerment and education, the Diabetes and Beyond Education Program was created to provide you with the tools you need to better manage diabetes. You will learn about the importance of a healthy diet, physical activity, and maintaining a positive outlook through this six week class. Take control of your health by learning how to take an active role in managing your diabetes.- Class Length: 1 hour per week
- Course Length: 12 weeks
- Location: Virtual and in-person options
**Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, OHAI is offering a mix of virtual and in-person educational programming at this time, please make sure to check which version your class is before registering. Please follow our Facebook Page as we are doing Tai Chi and SAIL via Facebook Live throughout the week.
We are also offering select programming, such as Tai Chi, SAIL, Powerful Tools for Caregivers, and Healthy Brain, Healthy Mind, via the Zoom videoconferencing platform. Please contact the OHAI office in your region of Oklahoma to register for Zoom video conference programming.
-
OU Health Announces Chief Operating Officer
OU Health, Oklahoma’s only integrated, comprehensive academic health system, has named Jonathan W. Curtright, MBA, MHA, chief operating officer. ...
Read More -
OU Health to Provide Neurology Services at McAlester Regional Health Center
OU Health in Oklahoma City is teaming with McAlester Regional Health Center to provide adult neuroscience services to people in southeastern Oklahoma. ...
Read More -
OU College of Medicine Researcher Earns $1.7 Million Grant to Study Origins of Age-Related ...
In the process of aging, many older adults bear the heavy burden of dementia and vascular cognitive impairment, conditions that can rob them of ...
Read More