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November 2, 2001/Cheshvan 16, 5762, Vol. 54, No. 8
Older adults keep minds, bodies active with OASIS
BETH OLSON
Staff Writer
With Americans living longer and a trend toward early retirement, there are a large number of older adults who are seeking activities to keep their minds and bodies active while they age.
OASIS is a nonprofit organization that meets those needs for older adults.
"OASIS is a fantastic program," says Lisa Cassidy, assistant director of Scottsdale's OASIS office. "What we do is make learning an adventure for mature adults. ... We offer educational programming that focuses on the humanities, arts and wellness. We do that in the form of classes, trips and special events. We also promote volunteerism."
OASIS is a nonprofit organization founded in St. Louis in 1982 by Marylen Mann and Margie Wolcott May, in partnership with May Department Stores Company (Robinson's-May in Arizona). The first local OASIS opened at Park Central Mall in 1987. There are now locations at Scottsdale Fashion Square and Phoenix Metrocenter. There is also a central satellite office at the Phoenix Center for Community Arts.
Programs are run out of Robinson's-May department stores, with each of the two main locations housing several classrooms, an office and a computer lab.
OASIS' parent organization locally is the Center for Senior Living. Cassidy says OASIS and the Center for Senior Living share the same mission: "We focus on keeping seniors active mentally and physically."
Recently, Scottsdale Healthcare became the organization's health sponsor.
With only three full-time employees locally - Cassidy, Director Lynette Petersen and Assistant Director Jean Marshall - OASIS depends on volunteer members to keep events and classes running smoothly.
Volunteers help with everything from general office work to computer input to class registration. Pearl Winograd has been an OASIS volunteer for 11 years. She enjoys working with the program because she says it feels like family.
"There's a camaraderie. You walk into the office and there's a very warm feeling," she explains.
Winograd also finds it rewarding to help others get signed up for classes.
"Three times a year they have registration and you should see the mob that comes down to register for activities," she says. "It's very gratifying because you know you're doing something that's constructive for elderly people."
An important part of the OASIS organization is the Intergenerational Tutoring Program, in which OASIS members are paired with students in grades kindergarten-fourth for one-on-one reading sessions during the school year.
Currently, OASIS has tutors in the Osborn, Scottsdale, Washington, Madison and Cave Creek school districts, as well as St. Daniel's and St. Gregory's schools and Hearn and Dobson academies.
The program requires a 12-hour training session for the tutors and a one-year commitment to a student. Tutors then create lesson plans and bring books and arts and crafts to work with the student one hour per week.
Lucille Zaback has been participating in the Intergenerational Tutoring Program since its inception in 1989. She says she gets the most pleasure from the reading improvement during the course of the year.
"I believe reading leads to everything in life," she says.
Herb Novack has also been in the program since the beginning.
"I get a kick out of it," he says.
Although rewarding, the tutoring is not always easy.
"These are children from dysfunctional homes. They may not have two parents. The father may be in jail. The mother may be working full-time," explains Zaback. "Sometimes it's very difficult because they have such an unstructured home life."
Zaback and Novack have both worked at the same school in the Scottsdale School District since the beginning of the program, and they are not unappreciated.
"When the principal sees us, she grabs us and gives us a hug," laughs Novack.
Another option for volunteers is the OASIS Readers Troupe. The troupe is an interpretive reading group that performs at retirement centers, churches and schools at no charge. Readings include short stories, plays, skits, humorous essays and poetry.
The most popular OASIS programs are the classes offered in areas from art to exercise, computers to history. Cassidy says this is what separates OASIS from other senior groups.
"There are a lot of senior centers out there that provide a recreational component. Thank God for them," she says. "There's also the other side that wants more. They don't want to stop working. That's why we provide the educational component."
Annalee Kaufer is an OASIS member and has been volunteering with the organization for eight years.
"OASIS is a program for people who really want to keep their mind stimulated - who are still interested in learning or talking about things," she says.
Kaufer says some of the most popular classes are computer classes.
"A lot of older adults are (new to computers) and afraid of them," she says. OASIS offers "a wonderful basic course that one of the volunteers gives."
Both Kaufer and her husband have volunteered to teach courses. In addition to courses taught by volunteer OASIS members, classes are taught by Arizona State University professors, members of the medical profession, other professionals and community members.
Winograd, Novack and Zaback all enjoyed participating in a Tai Chi class for several years, although health problems prevent them from doing so any longer.
Zaback says that over the years her favorite classes have been music and art - particularly a Chinese brush painting course.
Not all of OASIS' educational activities take place in a classroom. A variety of chaperoned trips are offered, from day trips around Arizona to international travel opportunities.
Kaufer says one of the most popular travel opportunities is the "I Wonder As I Wander..." trip, held monthly. The trip is planned by volunteers, and participants sign up without knowing what the destination will be until they arrive.
In general, Kaufer says, the trips have been unusual - a visit to a county recycling site, a bear-stuffing factory and a garlic festival among them.
Other out-of-town day trips have included Kartchner Caverns, Mount Lemmon and Lake Pleasant cruises. There are also frequent trips to the theater and to musical performances in town.
Winograd has enjoyed trips to museums and says she enjoys traveling with the group.
"What's nice about it is you can be a single female and take trips and not feel alone."
International trips this spring will include an eight-day cruise to the Caribbean in February and a trip to Spain in April. All of the international trips are chaperoned by OASIS staff to make sure that everything runs smoothly and to ensure participants' safety.
Winograd says she has made many friends through her participation in OASIS and the organization has really added to the quality of her life.
"You're doing something with a purpose. You're motivated to do something constructive," she says. "It's really a wonderful organization and I've never been disappointed in it."
For more information about OASIS, call the Scottsdale office at 480-994-1528, or the Phoenix office at 602-870-8337.
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