Senior Men's Healthy Living Group Meets Weekly at QLS

A  group of senior men who frequent the Quality Living Services Center (QLS) have designed a distinct program for themselves.

The  male-only program focuses on living healthy, fulfilled lives once participants  have passed the age of fifty.

The group known as the “Men’s Healthy Living Group” meets each Wednesday between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. The men meet to discuss and participate in activities which provides an impetus to live healthier, invigorating, and happier lives.

The group's facilitator, South Fulton Running Partner co-founder Jim Lemon, drives from his home in Fayetteville each Wednesday to southwest Atlanta to participate in the forum.

Lemon said he does not mind the drive because the group helps men open up about health and fitness issues that are unique to older men.

"It gives me the opportunity to serve and fellowship with my Nubian brothers," Lemon said.

The group gathers around long, rectangular tables in one of the larger rooms at QLS, the Anne Wood Room. (The room is named for  a deceased former Atlanta educator).

The men in the group likes to engage in conversation, enjoy lunch, and generally fellowship with one another. They range in age from the mid-fifties to the early nineties.

    Clarence Lott retired from the International Paper company in 1978. The company was located in Mobile, Alabama. He and his wife Caranell moved to southwest Atlanta nine years ago. Lott states, " I love the exercise  here and the speakers and general discussion."

Ninety-one year old Herbert Champion, who moves gingerly around with a cane and with a twinkle in his eyes said, emphatically, at one of the group's weekly meetings:” I was born a Champion and I’ll die a Champion”.

The  Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities/Office of Prevention funds the QLS men’s healthy living program.

According to the QLS Men’s Healthy Living Group website, the program provides “free health screenings, diabetes self-management information, nutrition education, and an educational lunch and learn series."

Black men’s health issues and concerns often center on diabetes, heart disease, prostate problems, physical  injuries, strokes, and often late life depression.

Being proactive about potential health issues is one of the more important steps in healthy living for both men and women of all ages, but especially for older African-American males.

At QLS the men’s healthy living program intentionally addresses those issues which are distinct to African-American senior males.

Group member, Otis Montgomery has been coming to QLS since 1998. Montgomery says the he likes meeting with this particular group and learns from it.

But, according to him, most of the men enjoy these weekly sessions  for a different reason. He says, “Men can come here and talk like they want to talk without the women."

QLS is located in southwest Atlanta. The QLS website states that the men's health program is a "male only empowerment program."

More information about this group can be obtained from QLS.