O'Fallon Partners With OASIS to Provide Activities for Older Adults in St. Charles County

From hands-on, magic trick workshops to chair yoga, adults 50 and older will have a variety of activities to sign up for this fall in O’Fallon.

The City of O’Fallon has partnered with St. Louis OASIS to help adults over the age of 50 find ways to get out of the house and meet new people, continue living healthy lifestyles and be active members of the community.

The OASIS Institute is a national education organization dedicated to helping older adults improve their quality of life. The organization, founded in St. Louis 29 years ago, provides services in 27 cities throughout the United States and has expanded to St. Charles County as the program continues to grow in St. Louis.

Maria Sullivan, St. Louis OASIS registrar and program coordinator, told O’Fallon Patch the organization has offered classes in St. Charles County for several years, but will begin offering more programs in O’Fallon.

“We have a lot of members in St. Charles County, and now they won’t have to cross the river,” Sullivan said.

The city hosted a grand opening celebration for the O’Fallon OASIS Hub Thursday at the , where representatives of Sam’s Club presented a $284,000 donation to benefit the program. In July, the St. Louis-based OASIS Institute was one of four national charities selected to participate in Sam’s Club Giving Made Simple program. The donation will help expand OASIS health and wellness programs at the Renaud Spirit Center.

Barbara Turkington, executive director of St. Louis Regional OASIS, said during the grand opening that, across the country, 35 percent of people age 50 and older lead sedentary lifestyles.

“We are at the forefront of keeping older adults’ bodies and minds active,” Turkington told O’Fallon Patch.

Starting this fall, the O’Fallon OASIS hub will provide more than 30 programs for older adults at the Renaud Spirit Center, Civic Hall, the O’Fallon Senior Center and Middendorf-Kredell Library.

O’Fallon Mayor Bill Hennessy said the OASIS programs will be a great mix with O’Fallon’s already existing parks and recreation activities.

St. Charles County residents who attended the grand opening agreed.

Kathy Stockglausner, of St. Charles County, sat at a table reading an informational pamphlet at the grand opening on Thursday. She said she’s been excited to sign up for OASIS programs since her cousins in St. Louis started attending three years ago.

“They’re constantly going to classes and talking about them,” she said. “We’ve been looking forward to them starting out here for us.”

Sharon Kaufman, of Wentzville, said she attended some programs in Clayton and is happy to see the variety of programs expanded to O’Fallon.

“I think it’s a great addition for seniors," Kaufman said. She added people have the choice to participate in whichever programs fit their life-style best. The variety of programs offered provide activities for more active seniors and those more suited for less active adults to enjoy. 

Programs offered range from wellness, to art and history.

Some programs beginning in O'Fallon throughout the next month include:

Active Living Every Day

• What? A 12-week program to make healthy life changes.
• Where/When? 10:30 a.m. beginning Wednesday at Civic Hall at
• Cost: $8 and includes a book

Watercolor Painting

• What? A six-week course with an award-winning instructor will teach participants how to paint holiday cards
• Where/When? 2 p.m. beginning Oct. 4 at Civic Hall
• Cost is $75.

 Building Bones: Mixed Level

• What? A class for those at risk for osteoporosis that incorporates weight and resistance training exercises, as well as offering information for people at risk for fractures and osteoporosis
• Where/When? Offered in 12, 11 and eight-week courses starting Oct. 4 at the Renaud Spirit Center.
• Cost: $65 for 12 weeks, $60 for 11 weeks, $43 for eight weeks

 Gentle Chair Yoga

• What? Participants learn breathing and yoga postures, along with ways that chairs can help with back and joint pain.
• Where/When? Offered in nine or five-week courses at Civic Hall beginning Oct. 5
• Cost: $60 for nine weeks, $33 for five weeks

 1904 World’s Fair

• What? Learn about the planning and exhibits of the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis.
• Where/When? 10 a.m. Oct. 5 at Civic Hall
• Cost: $12

To see a complete schedule, pick up a copy of the O’Fallon News letter at City Hall or visit the OASIS website.

For more information or to register for a program, contact Maria Sullivan at 314-539-4556.