By University Communications
Tuesday, 10 11 2022

A&M-San Antonio receives funding to implement interdisciplinary, community-health project 

SAN ANTONIO – Texas A&M-San Antonio recently secured State funding for an interdisciplinary, community-health project, “Bingocize: Social and Physical Engagement to Enhance Quality of Life.” In collaboration with Dr. Crandall Jason, co-director and co-founder of the Western Kentucky University Center for Applied Science in Health and Aging, A&M-San Antonio faculty and students from several disciplines will bring together their collective expertise in psychology, kinesiology and public health to introduce Bingocize ® to Certified Nursing Facilities in San Antonio and outlying areas.

The overall goal of the project is to improve nursing home residents' physical, cognitive and social quality of life; involve undergraduate and graduate students through service learning and action-based research in age-related health careers in collaboration with A&M-San Antonio’s Mays Center for Experiential Learning and Community Engagement; and strengthen the University’s commitment to serving the surrounding community.

 “The Health & Kinesiology Program is excited to be a part of the Bingocize® project that will enrich the lives of those living in certified nursing facilities while enhancing student experiences,” said Professor of Kinesiology Dr. John Smith, who serves as coordinator of student involvement for the program. “Students from kinesiology and psychology will engage with residents and directors of these centers to apply Bingocize® as a means to maintain and increase quality of life with movement and social activity.”

Created by Jason, Bingocize® is a socially engaging group-based program that combines exercise, health education and the popular game of bingo. Jason’s research team successfully tested Bingocize® and found more than 90 percent of older adults were retained over the course of the 10-week program and significantly improved physical, social and mental health.

Bingocize® strategically combines physical exercise and bingo through a series of gentle range of motion exercises, which are called by the program leader using a bingo letter/number combination. Sessions occur twice per week (each lasting 45-60 minutes). Increasing daily social engagement and physical activity through Bingocize® may improve physical health as well as decrease social isolation, thereby increasing residents’ quality of life and serving a critical need to address these issues.

The three-year project, led by Associate Professor of Psychology Dr. Dawn Weatherford, who is the principal applicant and project director, will implement the Bingocize® program in 24 Certified Nursing Facilities across South Texas from January 1, 2022– December 31, 2024. A&M-San Antonio is currently the first in Texas to apply Bingocize® as part of its instructional programming.  

Not only does the project serve as an opportunity to address a critical need for Certified Nursing Facility residents but will also facilitate strong community partnerships between educational institutions and Certified Nursing Facilities. Subsequently, students can develop their technical knowledge, build relationship and empathy skills, and acquire a thorough understanding of complex issues related to aging and long-term care. Students from multiple disciplines, including psychology, public health and kinesiology, will become prepared for future aging-related careers by significantly improving attitudes towards older adults and potentially addressing the ongoing shortage of qualified Certified Nursing Facility staff, high turnover rates among the log-term care workforce, and the aging Baby Boom generation.

Many Certified Nursing Facility residents lack social engagement and physical activity, which can contribute to a decline in Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) and functional performance, as well as a serious increase in fall risk. Annually, between half and three-quarters of Certified Nursing Facility residents will fall at least once and many will fall more than once. According to Texas Health and Human Services, more than 1,800 nursing home residents die each year due to injuries sustained from falls. In addition, at least 50 percent of residents experience cognitive impairment and reduced socialization and communication.

Assistant Professor of Psychology Dr. William Blake Erickson, who serves as program evaluator, said, “It's a privilege to launch this initiative to serve older adult populations in our community and explore ways to benefit cognitive and social wellbeing in those who have suffered most these past few years.”

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About Texas A&M University-San Antonio

Established as a stand-alone university in 2009, Texas A&M University-San Antonio is a comprehensive four-year public university that reflects the culturally diverse, heritage-rich community it serves. Situated on nearly 700 acres in south San Antonio, the University offers 33 undergraduate degrees and 16 graduate degrees to nearly 7,000 students. A&M-San Antonio is home to the Henry G. Cisneros Institute for Emerging Leaders and the Cyber Engineering Technology/Cyber Security Research Center. The University holds the Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) designation and is one of only 24 higher education institutions in the U.S. to have received the Seal of Excelencia certification from Excelencia in Education for its support of Latino student success. More than 75 percent of A&M-SA students identify as Hispanic, and 73 percent are the first in their family to attend college. A&M-San Antonio is a military-embracing institution; in 2020, Military Times ranked the University No. 35 in the nation for “Best for Vets: Colleges.” Visit tamusa.edu for more information. #onamission