Renowned scientist Dr. Fuzhong Li, developer of Tai Ji Quan Moving for Better Balance program, visits ICHS
ICHS Tai Ji Quan Moving for Better Balance team members pose with Dr. Fuzhong Li during his visit. L-R: Andrea Lynch, ICHS Program Instructor, Dr. Fuzhong Li, and Mu Yi Zhang, Resident Service Supervisor.
On May 13, 2022, International Community Health Services (ICHS) welcomed Dr. Fuzhong Li, senior scientist at Oregon Research Institute, to the health center’s International District medical and dental clinic. Dr. Li and his wife Shanshan Wang toured ICHS’ facilities and met with both staff and residents of ICHS’ Legacy House assisted living facility.
Dr. Li developed the Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance® training program. Based upon contemporary Tai Ji Quan martial arts movements, the program was designed to provide exercise and a “balance training regimen designed for older adults at risk of falling and people with balance disorders.” Moving for Better Balance classes are held across the country, at community centers and senior assisted living facilities alike. ICHS became an accredited site in October 2020.
ICHS was special for Dr. Li, says Min Huang, Senior Services Manager. Staff dedication to the program, and special attention to client safety stood out to Dr. Li. ICHS was the first participating organization to translate the training manual into Cantonese in order to host classes in participants’ preferred language. ICHS hosts Tai Ji Quan Moving for Better Balance classes free of charge, and staff visit every virtual registrant at their home for a safety evaluation.
On October 19, 2020, ICHS held its first accredited Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance program. Since then, hundreds of participants have completed the program. Staff and program graduates receive ICHS branded Tai Ji Quan t-shirts.
“It was an honor to meet Dr. Li,” says Kelly Zhang, Resident Service Supervisor. Staff had spoken with Dr. Li over virtual calls during ICHS’ accreditation but this was the first time he had visited in person. Zhang and other ICHS staff gave Dr. Li a tour of ICHS Legacy House Assisted Living facility to show him where in-person and virtual sessions are hosted.
Residents of Legacy House who join Tai Ji Quan Moving for Better Balance classes also shared their positive experiences of the program with Dr. Li. One resident, Joseph, shared with Dr. Li that three months ago he struggled to get out of the passenger seat of his son’s car. But after three months of joining the program, he felt that both of his legs were stronger and that he could stand up all by himself now.
These stories and feedback were important to Dr. Li. He continues to enhance the program and visited ICHS in search of volunteers for a virtual exercise research project using the Tai Ji Quan Moving for Better Balance program.
Registering for Classes
ICHS offers Tai Ji Quan: Moving For Better Balance as a 24-week program. Classes are two times per week, and virtual classes on Zoom are currently available.
Classes are free to register. Participants must be 55 years of age or older. To register and for more information please call Yihua Zhou, ICHS Program Specialist at (206) 462-0934.
The 60-minute in-person classes are currently taught at ICHS Legacy House Assisted Living facility in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District for residents to join. However, since April 11, in-person classes opened for non Legacy House residents at the International District Village Square building #2 located in the C-ID across the street from Legacy House.
Assisted Living at ICHS Legacy House provides senior care and services 24 hours per day, seven days per week to support residents to live independently and safely in culturally-familiar surroundings. Our professional staff speak more than 15 different Asian languages and dialects.
For more information about ICHS Legacy House Assisted Living or to schedule a visit, please call (206) 292-5184.