Amanda Stefanakos hopes games, food and fellowship bring together some of her senior citizen clients and local youth.
Stefanakos launched Healthful Hands last week with the First Baptist Church of North Augusta youth as a way of bridging a generation gap in the community. The program also aims to educate youth about ailments and diseases that often happen with aging, like Parkinson's Disease.
Stefanakos, who works with the Medical College of Georgia's movement disorders program, said she sees how getting out will help her clients, but she also wants to share their knowledge and experiences with teens.
"It didn't matter who walked in the door (tonight), we just wanted to try to engage them," she said.
The session actually began on Sept. 13 when Stefanakos spoke with First Baptist's youth group on Sunday about Parkinson's Disease and how it might not affect them now, but a family member may deal with it in the next 10 to 20 years.
On Wednesday, board games were set up and icebreaker questions ready to get help everyone get past awkward meet and greets.
The program also aims to help caretakers of seniors and give them a break.
Leroy Ross, of Beech Island, has several family members with Huntington's disease. After attending a support group at MCG, Ross said he's found that just getting out helps him get ideas from other caretakers.
"You get drained," he said. "It's good to see different people."
Charlie Swain, First Baptist's high school and college minister, said the program also allows the church to follow through on a mission to love on the community.
"They are all upper-middle class white kids," he said. "We want to expose them to people they wouldn't normally meet. The best way to do that is to go to the people."
Stefanakos said she'd like to see the pilot program continue at least once a month and then take it into rural communities where support programs don't exist.
For more information on Healthful Hands, contact Stefanakos at (706) 721-2798.
Reach Julia Sellers at julia.sellers@northaugustatoday.com
