PHOTO BY BRENNA WHITE / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
JUST THE FACTS … Fayette seniors citizens engage with Mark Sanchez while playing “Truth or Myth: Facts About Aging.”
By: Brenna White
THE VILLAGER REPORTER
publisher@thevillagereporter.com
On September 8, 2025, at 9:45 a.m., Fayette seniors gathered at the Community Life Center for the first session of a six-week wellness program.
The program is presented by Maumee Valley Guidance Center in partnership with the Wellness Initiative for Senior Education (WISE) and is designed to provide participants with resources to support healthy aging.
The opening session was led by Mark Sanchez, Center Specialist, who introduced the goals of the program and encouraged attendees to actively engage with the material.
The curriculum, developed by the New Jersey Prevention Network, will focus on building a better understanding of the aging process, promoting healthy lifestyle choices, and raising awareness of risk factors that can affect older adults.
Lesson One introduced participants to several expected outcomes, including improved understanding of facts and myths about aging, greater familiarity with the leading causes of death in America, and heightened awareness of the risks of depression among older adults.
The session also emphasized how lifestyle choices such as smoking, poor diet, lack of exercise, and alcohol use contribute to preventable health issues.
Seniors were encouraged to reflect on small, practical changes they could make to improve their overall health.
Adding more vegetables to their diet, incorporating daily walks, and practicing simple preventive habits like frequent handwashing were discussed.
The program will continue weekly, with each session addressing different aspects of wellness and healthy living.
Sanchez emphasized that the initiative is meant to enhance the quality of life for older adults in the community while providing tools to cope with life’s challenges. “A positive and proactive change can go a long way!” stated Sanchez.