Grouille ou Rouille community programs offer NBers aged 50 exercise, social networking

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Times & Transcript Staff

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There is a principal of science known as oxidation. Basically, if you just leave things sitting there, they rust. Abandoned cars, docked ships, that old swing set in the back yard -- they will all break down and rust if they are not used. Too bad most of us do not transfer that simple bit of knowledge to the human body.

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A group of seniors do aqua-exercises at the CEPS pool with the Université du 3e âge du Sud-Est program of Grouille ou Rouille.

Lise Desjardins and Susan Belliveau are working to change that. They run a program called "Grouille ou Rouille" which is a nice rhyme in French and would be translated as something like "Be Active or Rust."

The program is open to anyone who is 50 years of age and over, and has a number of components designed to promote active living in seniors in Kent and Westmorland counties.

"It is a program offered in a number of Kent and Westmorland Counties communities by the Université du 3e âge du Sud-Est (UTASE)," says Normand Leger, who does the promotional work for the organization.

Originally conceived as a way to promote university courses and lifelong learning to seniors, the Université du 3e âge is a provincial organization which also has programs in Fredericton, the Chaleur region, Caraquet, the Restigouche area and the North West of the province. It has ties to l'Université de Moncton, and there are similar organizations throughout Quebec operated out of most Quebec universities.

University courses are still a component; they offere opportunities for seniors to take courses at the university in areas that are of interest to them. But each regional organization also offers different programs. It has continued to develop since its inception a number of years ago and now is quite diversified. What Lise offers is, "a program geared to maintain people 50 and over in a healthy environment by participating in physical and social activities in their community."

Lise and Susan are both qualified physical activity instructors who adapt each program to the specific clientele they are working with. They tailor their work for people who are more or less mobile, for specific targets in fitness and health. Under the banner of Grouille ou Rouille there are a number of activities to make sure participants are moving enough so that they don't rust.

For example, there is an Aqua Form class which takes place at the pool at l'Université de Moncton, a walking club which takes to the trails of Centennial Park and offers nature animation along the way, explaining about trees, and flowers, and birds.

Lise and Susan take the courses on the road, going to a variety of clubs and halls, and even offering movement classes in the community room of local nursing homes.

"I have been to some of the classes," says Normand, "Lise does a lot and is very good with the seniors.

"She gives them a lot of little exercises and puts humour into it. She has a way of getting them up and moving even if they are having a bad day. No matter what, she finds a way to get them moving and that is the beauty of it."

The Université du 3e âge is focused on promoting health and vitality for older people in many ways. For example, three or four times a year, it publishes a newsletter with information and ideas relating to being a senior and aging gracefully. There is also a yearly exhibition for seniors at the Dieppe Community College which brings together all of those who are offering activities and services under one roof in order to allow people who have entered the third age to quickly see what is out there and available.

"There are quite a few people who go to the sessions locally," says Normand. "The organization has a lot of good people promoting exercise and a lot of people are interested in a more healthy way of managing the aging process; so it is a good fit."

In fact, the Université du 3e âge as a provincial organization is a partner to, or recipient of, much of the funding and promotion of wellness and aging within the government strategies. As the provincial chairman, William Lirette has been involved in many government strategies such as Health Canada's "Five-Year Action Plan to Increase the Vitality of Atlantic Canada's Acadian and Francophone Communities."

There is a sense within the organization that simply because you are getting older is no reason that your life cannot be filled with vitality and health. Last year there were over 600 participants in Grouille ou Rouille.

"With the exercise program you are not just getting healthier," says Normand, "you meet new friends, you are doing better socially. It is just better and it makes sure you don't rust."