Osteoporosis group meets monthly to share information

By CAROLINE KLAPPER, DAILY SUN

THE VILLAGES — When Jean Gaull was diagnosed with osteopenia and osteoporosis in her hip, she decided to find out as much as she could about her condition. Her search for knowledge led to her realization that The Villages needed a place for people with osteoporosis to learn about it and share information, and she established the Osteoporosis Support Group.

“There seemed to be a need for this,” Gaull said of the group, which she started almost a year ago.

The group meets once a month at Mulberry Grove Recreation Center, and every Monday and Friday, the group hosts exercise classes specifically for people with osteoporosis.

“Every other month we try to have (a) professional, and in between, we share research that we have done (and) experiences we have had,” Gaull said.

At February’s meeting, the group hosted guest speaker Dr. Alfred H. Moffett Jr., an obstetrician and gynecologist with OB-GYN Associates of Mid-Florida in Leesburg and The Villages, who talked about the risks, causes and treatments for osteoporosis.

It was the first meeting Sylvia Worley from the Village of Glenbrook attended, and she said she learned a lot of useful information from Moffett.

“I’ve just been diagnosed with osteoporosis,” she said. “Everybody today seemed very positive and receptive about the information they received.”

Group member Elizabeth Illes from the Village of Calumet Grove has been attending meetings since the group formed, and said she finds talking about her condition with others who understand to be very helpful.

“It scared me, knowing that I’m only 57 and I have severe osteoporosis,” she said, adding, “There are other people (here) that are in the same situation.”

She said the information she learns at each meeting helps her to understand and be better able to make decisions about her health.

“The more you know, the better you can serve yourself,” Illes said.

Caroline Klapper is a reporter with the Daily Sun. She can be reached at 753-1119, ext. 9018, or caroline.klapper@thevillages media.com.