Get your Bingocize on

A group of women raise their arms above their heads, striking a ballerina pose, raise up on tiptoes and reach to the sky.

After several sequences of movement, TyLinn Dodd asks a health-related question and then twirls a tumbler filled with numbers.

"B 12," she calls outloud, as participants check their game cards.

Welcome to Bingo-cize, a 10-week program that teaches health behaviors and exercise, combined with the popular numbers game.

More than a dozen Ewing-area residents gather twice a week, at Ewing city hall, for sessions that range between 45 to 60 minutes.

Dodd, a program intern with North Central District Health Department, in O'Neill, moderates the Ewing program, which is designed for people of all ages.

Developed by Dr. Jason Crandall, of Western Kentucky University, Bingo-cize® promotes mobility and independence, teaches health information focused on falls reduction, nutrition or health behaviors and engages older adults in a social setting.

The program in Ewing focuses on falls reduction.

"This combines trivia about falls knowledge, with ways to keep your house safe, and exercises which can help you regain balance and confidence."

Most importantly, the program encourages social interaction.

"Once you get older, you tend to self-isolate and that's not good for your health. It's not good for your mental outlook, so we want people to get out and have a good time," Dodd said.

Originally, Dodd planned to start a class in O'Neill.

"There weren't any takers,"Dodd said, noting cold weather may have been a contributing factor.

Not deterred, she contacted a friend who resides in Ewing and asked if a venue may be available to host the program. The friend suggested the city office.

Dodd contacted village clerk, Sharon Swails, who put her in contact with long-time Ewing resident, Doris Bollwitt.

"Doris talked with a group of friends after I explained Bingo-cize® with her and by mid-afternoon, I had at least 15 people ready to participte," she said.

Ewing sessions began Jan. 29.

"I had a whole bunch of people here, they were all ready to have a good time, they were all very positive and enjoyed themselves," she said.

During sessions, participants progressively build up time needed to complete exercises, as well as the intensity. Equipment, like resistance bands, may be utilized, to add work to the exercise.

"All (exercises) are meant to be adjusted to a person's activity level. If it hurts to do an exercise or it's hard to do an exercise, or if there's any physical limitation, you can do the bare minimum, as long as you participate," Dodd said.

Vera Eacker, a participant, said the exercises keep you active.

Participation is the most important part.

Exercises focus on stretching and staying limber. As people age and slow the amount of movement, stiffness may set in.

"It makes you a little more rigid when it comes to falling. With this specific workshop, it's meant more to keep you mobile than to exercise and lose weight. This is to keep your body moving," she said.

Participants work together through a series of five questions during a session.

"Having a healthy discussion about why you think something is the way it is or why it isn't, is good. You realize things you didn't know," Dodd said.

Bingo prizes are awarded several times throughout a session.

"It's just adds to the fun."

Dodd teaches another session in Ainsworth twice a week.

Once the falls prevention session concludes, Dodd hopes to work through the nutrition aspect.

"If there are people who would like to bring their parents or accompany a person an older adult they're helping, it's welcome," Dodd said.