Adair Residents need to go to the Y! They need to take advantage of this great opportunity!

Another element of a good quality of life is good physical and mental health. According to MICA and the Prioritization of Selected Risk Factors in Adair County, the number one risk factor for adults is “Obesity.” The number two risk factor in adults is “No Exercise.”, and the number three risk factor is “Mother Overweight”. According to OSEDA’s “Summary of Social and Economic Indicators for Adair County,” over 24.9% of Adair County residents reported their health was “fair or poor” compared to 16.9% statewide reports. OSEDA’s studied also showed that high blood pressure and cholesterol were also prevalent among Adair County residents, which can be a possible result of inactivity. Lack of physical activity is a risk factor that can be minimized and eliminated in a number of simple ways.  

Since adults can sometime have difficulty making time for themselves and their well being, they need to find ways to combine the different elements of good health and well being. Socialization and physical fitness are both aspects of life that the Adair County YMCA attempts to enhance in the Adair County community. As stated above, they try to achieve this by offering activities and programs to all ages of the community. The great thing about the adult programs offered is that, like the Adair County YMCA itself, it’s tailored to the community’s desires. All adult programs are either the same price, member or non-member, $2 more for non-members, or FREE! With these options, community members don’t have to commit to a membership at the YMCA, and they can still participate in activities that keeps them fit, active, and social.  Also, while the activities do consist of sports such as basketball, soccer, and volleyball, there are less intense programs such as yoga in the mornings (once the kids are dropped off at school) for those who just want to enhance their piece of mind. There are also programs that are simply opportunities to adults in the community to socialize and get to know each other better, such as coffee talks and dinners. A new round of programs start every fall, winter, and spring, which gives adults a chance to participate in such activities almost year round. 

The adult citizens in Adair County need to embrace their health and enhance their lives. The YMCA provides excellent programs to allow its community members to do just that. Many of the children, young adult, and senior citizen programs are being taken advantage of, but the adult programs are lacking in participation. Adults need to realize what a great opportunity they have sitting right in front of them and take it! They need to drive, walk, bike, or call the Adair County Family YMCA and, not necessarily buy a membership, but join one of the programs, get active, get involved, and get healthy!

I am a Health Science student at Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. Over the past few years of living among the residents, I've realized that their quality of life is so much different than my hometown. Adair County is located in the rural area of northeast Missouri. As of 2010, it is home to 25,607 residents, all scattered among four cities and two villages. Over half of this population is made up of adult citizens. Many of these adult residents do not live within the towns and can be somewhat secluded from the rest of the community due to the necessity of commuting to reach the more populated areas of the county. When community members were asked, “What brings everyone together?” the majority of the responses are essentially, “Meetings, events, errands, and work.” A major element of a good quality of life is social wellness. The children citizens in the Adair community have the opportunity to socialize through school and after-school programs, in addition to having more free time than their parents. Adults tend to forget about the importance of socialization and label it as a lower priority, especially in this area, where farmlands and wide open spaces are the norm. Human beings need to interact with each other and the Adair County community offers a variety of ways to do just that, I just don't think the adult community is taking advantage of it as much as they should.

About this Y!

Every YMCA, around the country, is tailored to its community. This is because the community raises funds for a YMCA and has an active say in how the YMCA is constructed, what is included in the facility, and how the facility is run, to an extent. The Adair County Family YMCA, in Kirksville, Missouri has a mission to put Christian principals into practice through programs that build health spirit, mind, and body for all. They focus on youth development, healthy living, and social responsibilities for community members of all ages by offering a variety of programs, experiences, options, and facilities year round. The Adair County community has outfitted their YMCA with an aerobics and weight room, a spinning room, sauna and hot tub area, and two full-service locker rooms. Besides these areas, offered programs include, but are not limited to, after-school programs, tot times, child care and watch (while parents work out), family campfires, youth and adult athletic/exercise programs, and fitness classes. This YMCA has unique qualities as well. There is membership assistance that uses a sliding fee scale and it based on the total household income and number of dependents. This program has been made possible through the funding from the United Way and contributions to the Strong Kids Campaign. In addition to membership assistance, the Adair County Family YMCA has a very large amount of outdoor land that many YMCAs around the nation do not have. This outdoor land gives the YMCA the opportunity to hold many different recreational activities and events that would not be possible at other YMCAs, due to the lack of space.