HILLSDALE—There are no language barriers at the exercise class for seniors at the Hillsdale House.
Lois Kohan, public health nurse at the Hillsdale Board of Health, wrote in on Aug. 30 to share a photo — and her pride in her charges originally from China, South Korea, Russia, Iraq, Syria, and the United States who show up weekly for guided aerobics, stretching, and relaxation.
“It’s amazing how through exercise they just follow me. It’s very special — it’s unique and different,” Kohan told Pascack Press when we called to learn more.
Hillsdale House, at 32 Piermont Ave., is a senior low-income housing apartment subsidized by the federal government’s Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Division.
Kohan said there were 99 apartment units. “There a few husband-wife couples but the majority are low-income seniors. There are 10 handicapped apartments.”
She added the exercises are “Head to toe! It covers all parts of your body. It’s one day a week, with some folks wanting it more often, but it’s a time issue. I just have so many things to do.”
Kohan said, “I started it a long time ago just to help get these people out of their apartments, physically and psychologically. It’s very important for mental health, to socialize and get out and about, and it gets us together.”
And, she said, “It’s worked amazingly well! They keep coming every week. And they thank me all the time. They’re happy. It gets them together, you know.”
Classes in the summer and early autumn of 2020 were held our on the patio. With vaccinations, classes have resumed inside, so the weather is never a concern.
Kohan said the residents also are turning out for a monthly offering inaugurated this summer: yoga. She bought an instructional DVD that she and the residents follow together.
And an intern pursuing her master’s degree in music therapy presents a popular program at Hillsdale House thanks to a grant from Meals On Wheels North Jersey (mealsonwheelsnorthjersey.org).
Kohan has worked for Hillsdale’s Board of Health for 30 years. “I’m just part-time now; I help out. I’ve been going over to Hillsdale House ever since I started with the BOH. There’s a need over there.”
She also helped launch the Helping Hand Food Pantry at Hillsdale United Methodist Church. The non-profit charitable organization serves the citizens of Hillsdale, Westwood, Emerson, Oradell, and Woodcliff Lake, and is in its 29th year.
Asked to pass along any 30th anniversary celebration plans taking shape at the pantry, she acknowledged the pandemic. “We will if we’re able to do anything! You don’t know; you just don’t know.”
Kohan said of Hillsdale House’s residents, “If they need food, if they need help, I’m there. Exercise is just one thing that we do. And we do it together and they keep coming back.”
She lauded Hillsdale House as “a phenomenal facility,” and singled out Superintendent Oscar Lopez as “a well liked person. He’s Mr. Handyman. He takes care of everyone, including us. He sets up the chairs for the exercises, and he takes them down when we’re done — and his housekeeping puts mine to shame. Everything is always spotless.”
Kohan circled back to her photo, taken at the exercise class of Thursday, Aug. 26. “It just hit me that all these people speak different languages and yet somehow we communicate through exercise. We enjoy being together, laughing and having fun while trying to maintain our physical, mental, and emotional health.”
Thanked for her service overall, she said, “I’m doing God’s work, that’s all I can say. I’m trying to serve. That’s what nurses do. It’s a good profession.”