Improving Aging African American Health Through Dance

Penn Institute on Aging
Image: med.upenn.edu

 

Attorney, inventor, and philanthropist Robert Kasirer first came to the US as a child after his parents survived Nazi Europe. His parents went on to co-found Golden State Health Centers, which owns and operates skilled nursing facilities. Robert Kasirer serves as a managing member of KFT Capital, a real estate investor which also works with skilled nursing facilities, and is also a director at JacobRose Family Foundation. He also spent time as a consultant for the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute of Aging (IOA).

Founded in 1979, the IOA supports research and education on aging and aging-related diseases. The IOA recently reported on a study on older African-American adults and the potential benefits of African dance. The study, called the Rhythm Experience and Africana Culture Trial (REACT!), was created to address the specific aging-related cognitive issues that affect African-Americans twice as often as Caucasians. This may be due to a suite of factors including less access to quality education in the African-American community, as well as risk factors for dementia, including type 2 diabetes, obesity, and other vascular diseases.

Research has shown that physical activity can improve cardiovascular health as well as neurocognitive function. REACT! works with African-American adults between age 65 and 75 in two groups – the first of which will practice African dance three times a week, while the second group will receive education on African culture and healthy behavior. The study hopes to discover which of the two interventions will better serve this population and hopefully discover useful tools that can help correct social and racial disparities for other communities as well.

Benefits of SoulCycle

SoulCycle
Image: soul-cycle.com

With a law degree from St John’s University School of Law, Robert Kasirer went on to an Of Counsel position with Manatt, Phelps, Rothenburg, and Phillips. From there, he went on to a career in the health care industry, and today, he is a managing director with KFT Capital and a director of the aging and architecture-focused JacobRose Family Foundation. Robert Kasirer keeps himself healthy in part through SoulCycle.

SoulCycle is a form of spinning class on an indoor bike. Spin bikes are taller than regular stationary bikes and SoulCycle classes require clip-in shoes. Each class is 45 minutes and includes high-energy music and an instructor that takes you through a full-body workout with light hand weights. The class can burn 500 to 700 calories and generally targets the abs, glutes, and cardiovascular systems.

SoulCycle has become very popular in recent years, with celebrity endorsements from people like Kelly Ripa and Molly Sims. In addition to the workout, classes have a community aspect that many people find motivating. The choreography and intensity of focus also help some people relieve stress and anxiety.

Aging and Architecture

 

Robert Kasirer

Robert Kasirer innovated two technologies: one for integrating health care management, and another for managing real estate developments. Having spent time in senior management with Golden State Health Centers nursing facilities and on the external advisory board of the University of Pennsylvania’s Institute on Aging, Robert Kasirer went on to positions as a managing director with KFT Capital and a director of the JacobRose Family Foundation, which focuses on aging and architecture.

As the US aging population grows, the need for spaces that serve older adults is becoming more relevant. Traditional nursing homes were often built with the intention to house people briefly at the end of their lives, but with improvements in health care and technology, we are living longer than ever and many of us will want to continue to live active, social lives beyond retirement.

In many apartment buildings, for example, hallways are a direct line from the elevator to the apartment. Designing a wider space and including shared seating space may encourage neighbors to interact with each other more often when they are close to home. Nursing homes could also be integrated with other buildings, such as a school, to encourage interaction between the nursing home residents and the students. These sorts of architectural changes might help prevent isolation and depression in the growing aging population.

Camp Ramah’s Mador Program

 

Mador Program
Image: ramah.org

A New York University graduate, Robert Kasirer followed in his parents’ footsteps to focus on a career dedicated to senior citizen welfare. Beyond his professional duties, Robert Kasirer supports Camp Ramah in California, a Jewish summer camp that brings together campers from North American and Israel.

Camp Ramah operates numerous initiatives, including the Mador program. Open to incoming 12th-grade students, the Mador program is a leadership training course that takes place over nine weeks.

In the two-part program, students work as counselors to younger campers and take part in classroom sessions where they hear from experts in fields including child development, psychology, and rabbinic studies. Space on the Mador program is limited, and not all applicants are successful.

The application process includes submission of a written application with references. All candidates must complete interviews prior to selection. Applicants active in Jewish community organizations, such as youth groups and Hebrew schools, receive priority.

The SoulCycle 101 Class

 

Soul 101
Image: soul-cycle.com

An experienced attorney and consistent innovator, Robert Kasirer has dedicated much of his career to the health care and nursing home sectors. An advocate for senior health and disabled people, Robert Kasirer was inspired by his parents, who spent their own careers in the nursing home industry. Away from his professional endeavors, Robert Kasirer attends SoulCycle classes.

Created as a means to get fit while also enriching the soul, SoulCycle classes feature inspiring instructors who often conduct sessions by candlelight and using music. The organization operates the SoulCycle 101 class for those who want to gain a clearer understanding of the SoulCycle methods and how they can be of benefit.

Open to riders who have taken a maximum of five SoulCycle classes, SoulCycle 101 is a one-hour workshop that offers a higher degree of interactivity than the normal sessions. Attendees are offered the opportunity to ask questions of instructors, in addition to learning more about proper form and bike fitting, both of which improve rider safety and efficiency.

The Park City Mountain Resort

 

Park City Mountain Resort
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A business leader and innovator, Robert Kasirer serves as the chairman and chief executive officer of HealthCare Continuum. When not engaged in his professional duties, Robert Kasirer is an avid skier and regular visitor to the Park City Mountain Resort.

Based in Utah, Park City is one of the United States’ leading ski resorts. Only a short drive from Salt Lake City International Airport, it features over 7,300 acres of skiable terrain, which is divided into a multitude of courses for skiers of all skill levels. It now offers the largest amount of skiable terrain in the United States, following its linking with Canyons Resort in 2015.

Featuring over 300 trails and a super pipe for the most experienced skiers, the resort welcomes skiers and snowboarders. In addition, the resort provides limited access to users of other sliding devices. Further, it plays regular host to events such as concerts and competitions.

Youth Composer Education at the Hollywood Bowl

 

Youth Composer Education
Image: hollywoodbowl.com

An inventor and experienced executive, Robert Kasirer is also a member of the external advisory board of the University of Pennsylvania Institute of Aging. Outside of work, Robert Kasirer enjoys attending concerts at the Hollywood Bowl.

The summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Hollywood Bowl also hosts its eponymous orchestra as well as dozens of other musicians and events throughout the year. To connect with its community, the Bowl offers a number of education programs for students, families, and adults.

One of the Hollywood Bowl’s youth initiatives is the Nancy and Barry Sanders Composer Fellowship Program. Since its founding in 2007, the program has worked to connect high school-aged composers with some of the greatest composers in the world. Program fellows receive access to philharmonic rehearsals, musician demonstrations, and chamber music readings.

During the two-year program, participants write two orchestra pieces for the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and are then able to attend their rehearsals and premieres. Participants leave the program with professional recordings of their compositions.

Common Patent Issues

Patent
Image: uspto.gov

Robert Kasirer was inspired to enter the healthcare sector because of his parents’ sterling reputation in the nursing home industry. An attorney and innovator, Robert Kasirer has applied for a patent on a new system of applications addressing the needs of intermediate care facilities, such as nursing homes and hospitals.

Filing for a patent is a complicated process. If you’re applying for a patent, be prepared for the following issues.

1. You will be asked to pay a filing fee, which will not be refunded even if the patent fails. If your application is accepted, you will need to pay an issue fee.

2. You will be asked for maintenance fees three and one-half years, seven and one-half years, and 11 and one-half years from the date the patent is granted.

3. The biggest mistake that filers make is failing to fully describe their inventions. You should include descriptions of every feature of the invention in enough detail that someone familiar with the industry can replicate the design.

The Hollywood Bowl Orchestra

Hollywood Bowl
Image: hollywoodbowl.com

Robert Kasirer is an innovator and health care facility owner who, as a boy, immigrated to the United States from Europe, where his parents survived the Nazi occupation. Outside of his professional efforts, Robert Kasirer enjoys attending shows at the Hollywood Bowl.

The Hollywood Bowl is an outdoor amphitheater operated by the Los Angeles Philharmonic Association in Los Angeles, California. The theater was founded in 1992 and has a history of musical excellence and playing host to notable musicians from around the world.

The orchestra at the Hollywood Bowl informally dates back to 1925, when it was referred to as the Bowl Orchestra. Made up of approximately 80 musicians, the orchestra is a diverse international assembly of musicians, all classically trained. Throughout the music season, the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra performs a wide variety of music that ranges from classical music to film music, pop music, and jazz. In addition, there is no musician crossover between the orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic.

Health Benefits of SoulCycle

SoulCycle
Image: soul-cycle.com

An inventor, business executive, and innovator, Robert Kasirer has spent years working in the long-term healthcare industry to improve the lives of seniors and individuals with disabilities. Robert Kasirer is also a graduate of New York University and the St. John’s University School of Law. Outside of his professional activities, Mr. Kasirer enjoy staying active and participates in SoulCycle workouts on a regular basis.

SoulCycle is a popular spinning class that incorporates inspirational coaching, music, and even weight training into its 45-minute-long workouts. First opened in 2006, SoulCycle gyms offer a wide range of health benefits in addition to the approximately 500 to 700 calories that are burned each session.

Since spinning is a cardiovascular workout, participants benefit from increased conditioning. However, SoulCycle also incorporates resistance and weight training, which results in better overall muscle tone and increased caloric burn. Spinning is also a low impact workout, so participants with joint issues can participate without an increase in arthritic pain. In addition, the group setting and inspirational nature of SoulCycle enables individuals to push through fitness barriers and increase their overall health and wellness.