September is Healthy Aging Month

One of the ways that senior living communities help seniors age better is with their fitness, exercise and wellness programs, tailored just for the older set.

Even though health clubs seem to be accessible almost everywhere and to every age group, seniors living communities boast higher numbers of residents participating in fitness programs because classes are accessible, social and good for them.

However, you don’t need to live in a senior living community to find exercise options.  Many local senior centers and hospitals offer low cost fitness programs to seniors without requiring monthly memberships.

If you are planning to write about September and Healthy Aging Month, please consider these Florida area senior living communities as resources:

The Palace Coral Gables –  Its wellness program won a National Gold Award from the National Association of HomeBuilders in 2014, due in part to their continuous and creative efforts that go into their exercise and fitness programming.

The Palace Coral Gables and East Ridge at Cutler Bay—With residents ranging in age from 79 and up, they offer exercise and fitness programs geared to the residents’ specific abilities, taking into consideration their physical constraints. This may start with rehabilitation, until balance, strength and stamina are up to par to pursue fitness classes.

Tips from specialists Suzanne Delgado, Wellness Center Coordinator at East Ridge, and Julian Hevia, the Wellness Associate and certified personal trainer at The Palace Coral Gables include:

  • Have a fitness evaluation to assess your abilities and create a program geared to your abilities.

At both The Palace Coral Gables and East Ridge, fitness evaluations are offered to determine what program is best, based on medical history and current physical status. East Ridge’s fitness testing is provided by Rehab Care®Smart Moves wellness services.

  •  Make exercise a priority and set realistic goals. 

“Getting people in the gym is hard, keeping them there is even harder,” said Hevia. If you sit with a resident and set specific, reasonable goals from the get-go (i.e. “I want to be able to get up from a chair without using my hands”), the seniors tend to stick to the regimen better than those residents who come in with a general exercise mindset (i.e. “I just want to lose weight and be healthier”).

  •  Work your schedule around a fitness class or exercise each day

The Palace Coral Gables and East Ridge offer exercise classes daily primarily in the morning and early afternoon when their residents prefer exercising. They both offer class options to motivate residents’ participation.

“There are always options to choose from for daily exercise. Our residents know there will always be some form of fitness or exercise going on that they can attend,” said Hevia.

The Palace residents want Saturday and Sunday classes too.

  •  Try something new to pursue to maintain interest. You can vary cardio with walking, swimming, Zumba and more.

The Palace Coral Gables frequently introduces new classes to reenergize fitness interest. Most recently they started Move Your Boomsey, an African drum dance fitness class that combines tones, beats rhythms and energy.  Taught by African instructor Kukuwa, the class meets twice a month.  They also introduced Reiki Healing Circle and Meditation, that residents quickly embraced.

East Ridge offers outdoor classes that includes aquacise, and when the weather cooperates disc golf and Master tennis.

  •  Aim to exceed 10,000 steps per day by walking, but build up gradually.

Both Hevia and Delgado recommend that goal setting and having attainable goals that are measurable are extremely important.

Healthy aging not only involves fitness but mental health too.

  •  Pursue a creative outlet

From photography, painting, and drawing; creativity energizes the brain. The Palace Coral Gables offers multi-media art design and painting classes while East Ridge offers a creative crafters club and an art therapy class.  Residents have the chance to express themselves through the use of color, texture and various art mediums, while discussing thoughts and feelings.

For these tips and more, both Suzanna Delgado at East Ridge and Julian Hevia at The Palace Coral Gables are available for interviews. For arrangements please contact:  Janis Ehlers, The Ehlers Group, [email protected], 954-726-9228.

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