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Wellness Week 2024 – Because Kale Can’t Do It All.

By Christine Hall

The week of October 21st, 2024 brought a lot of life and some line dancing to the MJ Wicks Wellness Center, where Wellness Staff, Colin Deck, Sarah Doerner and Andre Anthony held the first ever FTJ Wellness Week. Each day involved different events and courses, catering to residents, staff, community members and caregivers alike! Whether the event offered a personalized strength training routine built by a professional trainer, an introduction to meditation, balance labs and posture assessments, tree walks, or a conversation with Becca Boston, an expert on caregiver burnout; Wellness Week had something for everyone.

Sarah Doerner, FTJ Holistic Wellness Coordinator, said, “This week, we embarked on a Holistic Wellness Journey, celebrating the diverse paths to well-being. Our inaugural wellness week not only offered a rich menu of experiences- from insightful guest speakers to invigorating activities- but also fostered a sense of community. Through our vision to create a space where wellness is inclusive, we invited our members to explore all areas of well-being and discover new paths to personal growth!”

Vendor Fair

These new paths were explored with the Vendor Fair held on Wednesday, which included local companies and organizations providing products or services to an ever-growing demographic of age 55 and better. When it comes to health and well-being, companies like The Health Connection, a local chiropractic office, AgeSTRONG, campus rehabilitation, and Mar & Sol Mental Health Services were there to answer any questions about the benefits of their services.

Thinkie, a brain-training program designed by neuroscientists that aids in cognitive function improvement with the use of mobile games, had information and demonstrations of their product.  The Bemer Group also gave demonstrations of their FDA approved medical device that uses electromagnetic pulses to improve circulation. Lastly, attendees could obtain a plethora of information, from legal or assistive resources to volunteer opportunities, through organizations like Connect Our Elders of Western Washington, Pierce County Human Services, and Metro Parks.

Member Appreciation Potluck

FTJ Wellness Week was wrapped up with a Member Appreciation Potluck on Friday. All participants were invited to celebrate each other and bring a dish to share while engaging in more conversation. With a sensational turnout, there was almost too much food, considering Andre put his chef’s hat on and made authentic Korean dishes for everyone. The food nourished the participants in body, and the joy and camaraderie nourished their spirit, making this first ever week-long event a triumph!

According to Colin Deck, FTJ Wellness Program Supervisor, “Overall, the Wellness Week was a huge success. All the events were well attended. Most importantly, the week brought value to our members. The Member Appreciation Potluck was a great way to wrap up the week and celebrate our members and team. We will definitely do this again in the future.”