Dressed in their holiday glitz, couples glided and twirled across the dance floor during the annual Healthy Ages Christmas party in December at TRAC in Pasco.

[blockquote quote="We had about 500 people sign up this year, nearly 100 more than attended last year." source="Janet Artzer, Healthy Ages Program" align="right" max_width="300px"]

Watching their footwork, few would guess that most of the dancers sashaying by were well past retirement age.

Kadlec Regional Medical Center has sponsored the event for the past 25 years for members of its Healthy Ages program and their guests.

“For some, this party is their only holiday event,” said Jim Hall, Kadlec’s director of government and community relations

“We had about 500 people sign up this year, nearly 100 more than attended last year,” said Janet Artzer.

Artzer and Corey Wakeley co-manage the Healthy Ages program that offers monthly classes on topics of interest to retirees, like managing diabetes, recovering from heart attacks and strokes and weight management. They also oversee the Mall Walkers program, keeping track of walkers’ miles and handing out rewards.

This year’s party was the first Sandie and Dean Boyce of Kennewick have attended, even though she’s been a Mall Walker for quite a while.

However, after winning a $100 VISA gift card at the party, Dean Boyce said they will likely make the holiday dance an annual event.

June Ella Ottenberg, 79, of Pasco has been a member of Healthy Ages for more than 10 years.

“I joined when I was diagnosed with diabetes and have found their monthly classes to be very helpful,” she said.

Ottenberg often attends the annual holiday party, sometimes with friends, sometimes she goes alone.

“They’re always a fun time and I enjoy meeting new people,” she said.

The dancing is what draws JoDella Sargent, 84, to the holiday party. Her late husband, Elden Sargent, played in one of the first live bands booked for the Healthy Ages parties in the 1990s.

She too is a long-time member of Healthy Ages and agreed this year’s party was one of the best.

“The DJ played a lot of the songs we grew up dancing to,” Sargent said, adding that dancing is the healthiest form of exercise for seniors.

“It keeps you active, it keeps you young,” Sargent said.

In addition to the monthly classes, Artzer and Wakley also offer free “Welcome to Medicare” workshops once a month. During the two-hour workshop they cover Medicare benefits and how Medi-gap plans, Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Part D Prescription Plans and Retiree plans work.

The free classes are held at Central United Protestant Church in Richland, said Artzer. There’s no charge to join Healthy Ages.

For more information about Healthy Ages or to sign up, call 509-942-2700 or visit www.kadlec.org/community/community-outreach/healthy-ages.