Reebok tennis shoes and spandex outfits for grandma and grandpa could be the next fashion trend.

That is if Jim Rimmer, NIU physical education associate professor, has anything to do with it. He is urging society to help senior citizens become physically fit while trying to meet the needs of the growing number of people over the age of 65.

“By the year 2000 there will be significantly more men and women over the age of 65 than there will be under 45,” Rimmer said.

He said society eventually will be paying for the highly skilled care of older persons who become increasingly disabled.

Rimmer said as a person ages he becomes more susceptible to disease, but research shows exercise can boost immunity.

With this in mind, Rimmer has started a program at Oak Crest Retirement Center in DeKalb to encourage senior citizens to become physically fit.

The program matches qualified undergraduate students from the physical education department with a senior citizen so they can exercise together.

The students are required to meet with their partners at least three days a week for 45 minute sessions.

The students earn one hour of credit and are supervised by a graduate student.

Rimmer said the program is extremely organized and they don’t start exercising without knowing a person’s present health condition, medication or permission from their doctor.

immer has seen only positive results from the program so far. “The motivational level of the students not only goes up, but the students also gain a better attitude towards the elderly,” he said.

Sloan Strink, sophomore pre-med major, said she has a very motivated partner. “Sometimes students get paired up with senior citizens who are hesitant about exercising,” she said.

When that happens the student just has to repeat the instructions slower, or encourage them to do five bicep curls instead of 10, she said.

Strink said there is a lot of stretching, flexibility and balance exercises.

Free weights, exercise bikes and heart watch monitors, electronic devices that are strapped on to the exerciser allowing him to see his heart rate are some of the equipment the Oak Crest Center supplies.

immer said even if senior citizens do not want to exercise, they are still matched up with a student.

“The psychological aspect alone of getting out of the loneliness of aging is a start in the right direction,” he said.