Making the Golden Years brighter

Making Golden Years

BRIGHTER

A UTA study is aimed at helping seniors lead more active lifestyles

Story by Herb Booth Story by Herb Booth Photo: mcdonaldshhc.com Photo: mcdonaldshhc.com

Thanks to support from the W.W. Caruth Jr. Fund of the Communities Foundation of Texas (CFT), a University of Texas at Arlington multidisciplinary research team is developing a study aimed at helping older adults lead more active lifestyles. Kate Hyun, assistant professor of civil engineering, is leading the $535,000 project. She says she and her research team are grateful to the Caruth Fund of the CFT for supporting the project, which seeks to help older adults become more active, especially those who may have become more sedentary during the pandemic.

“We’re so thankful that the Caruth Fund of the Communities Foundation of Texas places value on how impactful research can beneft all of society,” Hyun says. “UTA is committed to research that improves health and the human condition, and it’s not possible without this sort of foundational support.” The study, Motivational Technology to Increase Physical Activity, develops a two-phase intervention for older adults to increase near-term physical activity and change behavior toward a more active life. During the eight-week Phase 1, the team uses principles of behavior change and persuasion to increase physical activities through conventional methods such as texts, emails, automated voice calling and fyers. Phase 2 will employ smartphone apps equipped with interactive modules to boost daily physical activities with older adults. The apps use gaming, like Pokémon Go, and feedback interaction, like Facebook. “The research team strongly believes that providing a channel for facilitating social activities and peer engagement would directly infuence older adults to promote their physical activity and social participation, which provide a bufer from chronic and infectious diseases,” Hyun says. “The proposed project is especially timely now – as our large baby-boomer generation ages amid a pandemic – because it encourages older adults to adopt an active lifestyle that will help with Team leader both prevention of disease and recovery.” Kate Hyun Sarah Cotton Nelson, CFT chief philanthropy ofcer, says the project will help improve the health of the community.

“The Communities Foundation of Texas is proud to support Dr. Hyun’s work to strengthen mental and physical well-being through promoting active movement and identifying methods to build habits for sustained lifestyle change, which will create a stronger and healthier community,” she says.

Co-principal investigators include Kathy Lee, assistant professor of social work; Angela Liegey-Dougall, associate professor of psychology; Christoph Csallner, professor of computer science; Xiangli Gu, assistant professor of kinesiology; and Steve Mattingly, professor of civil engineering. Csallner said augmented reality is an emerging technology where lots of research on novel hardware and software solutions is happening, “so it is exciting to contribute to this area by developing solutions that improve peoples’ lives.”

THE PLACE FOR ‘I DO’ AND MUCH MORE

Kathryn and John Rhadigan are eager to build on tradition at The Abbey Estate

Each member of the Rhadigan family plays a role in making The Abbey Estate a memorable venue for its guests.

When Arlington residents John and Kathryn Rhadigan purchased the renowned wedding/party/celebration location, The Abbey Estate, in Waxahachie in December of 2019, the transaction served as the culmination of a variety of family goals. “A celebration venue has always been a part of our ‘Chapter Two - Empty Nest’ plans,” says Kathryn, who spent more than 20 years coordinating fundraising galas, banquets and receptions – just Photos: The Abbey Estate the sort of events for which The Abbey Estate is ideally suited. Additionally, John has served as one of the most requested Master of Ceremonies/Auctioneers in DFW for more than 30 years. Again, the venue seemed a perfect ft.

“It doesn’t hurt,” Kathryn adds, “that we both LOVE a good party!”

Once the Abbey was acquired, Kathryn and John commenced tailoring the storied site to match their respective family members’ talents and tastes. She takes care of venue operations, and John is responsible for fnances and property maintenance. Friends and former coworkers rotate for events, and the Rhadigans’ two young-adult children pitch in when their professional schedules allow.

While the pandemic has wreaked havoc on conventional weddings, it has given the Rhadigans time to work on property updates and to create and host COVID-compliant Elopement and Micro-Wedding Packages (celebrations for under 50 guests). Eventually, the couple wants to add a Beer Pavilion and Grafti Garden. “We also look forward to welcoming retreats and small-ticketed events to our annual schedule,” Kathryn notes. “Most of all, we look forward to future celebrations without masks or social distancing!”

While all forms of revelry will eventually take root at The Abbey Estate, it will always be known as “a great place to get married.” To that end, brides and grooms will discover, if they haven’t already, that there is a familiar face eager to help them exchange vows. “Shortly before we purchased The Abbey, John was thrilled to serve as the ofciant at the wedding of a dear family friend,” Kathryn says. “We never imagined how useful his ordination papers would become! When the pandemic hit in March of 2020, our venue was limited to events of 10 guests or less. We had dozens of distraught couples whose long-planned celebrations were put on indefnite hold and who were looking for refunds. When one sobbing bride told me that she and her fancé were going to the courthouse to get married because her grandmother had already embroidered their wedding date on a pillow – an idea was born. We immediately started ofering complimentary elopements – complete with a local sportscaster ofciant and cake and champagne reception – if couples agreed to move their larger celebration to a later date. It worked! I’m pretty sure most venue elopements don’t include vows, cake and impromptu Q&A’s about the Rangers. But ours did at The Abbey Estate!”

For more: theabbeyestate.com

A WHOLE LOT OF SHAKIN’

GOING ON

Photos: City of Arlington

Prior to Light Up the Night, Daddy Daughter Date Night In a Box on Feb. 20, Arlington Parks will host an optional Daddy Daughter Virtual Dance Contest. Dads can send a video of you and your daughter(s) busting out your favorite moves. A panel of Daddy Daughter committee judges will score and rank the winners in three categories.

Submit videos to parksdepartment@arlingtontx.gov. Please include contact information (name of dancers, email and phone). Limit your video to 1-3 minutes. Entries must be received by Feb. 7. You can submit one video per family. Winners will be announced and shared on @arlingtonparks social media on Feb. 19.

Despite the pandemic, Arlington Parks and Recreation is keeping the annual Daddy Daughter Dance alive with the transition to Light Up the Night, Daddy Daughter Date Night in a Box. It will be a drive-thru event, held from 4-7 p.m. at Bob Duncan Center (2800 S. Center St.). During that time, pre-registered families will pick up their special date night box flled with several items that guests have grown to love over the years – as well as a few fun surprises. From there, the night awaits!

For more: shorturl.me/ozhw