AGING WITH CARE | Seattle’s contributions to senior fitness
Seattle has a wonderful history of being a leader in senior fitness and conditioning.
In the early 1990s, the U.S. surgeon general determined two out of three seniors were inactive. The fear: Inactivity would negatively affect health.
In collaboration with a King County nonprofit, Sound Generations (formerly Senior Services), researchers at the University of Washington and Group Health worked to quantify the effects of regular fitness conditioning on aging and health.
The results:
•A discovery that there weren’t any evidence-based group fitness programs specifically designed for senior health to combat chronic disease.
•It was incumbent to develop an exercise and conditioning program for seniors, one with outcomes that could be measured.
•The team of collaborators developed a program and trained instructors.
•They solicited participants.
•They tracked participation and monitored results.
The pilot program was started at the North Shore Senior Center in Bothell in 1993. The resulting fitness regimen is called “EnhanceFitness.” Sound Generations manages this fitness program, with scientific partnership from the University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center.
Funding for the original research came from the National Institute on Aging, Veteran’s Affairs, and the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Ongoing research is funded through various entities, including the CDC and the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors.
In 1998, a formal launch made participation available to 1,000 Group Health Medicare enrollees. Since then, EnhanceFitness has grown to 55,000 participants at 572 sites in 39 states. The surgeon general recognized EnhanceFitness by giving it the Nonprofit Innovation Award.
In King County, 300 EnhanceFitness sessions are offered weekly at 60 locations — both public and private. Locations range from community and senior centers to senior living communities. EnhanceFitness classes are free to members of Group Health’s Medicare Advantage Plan. At the Capitol Hill location of Group Health, three sessions are offered each weekday.
The upshot: EnhanceFitness is an ongoing senior fitness and conditioning program that nets measurable results — it’s a “lifetime fitness class.”
Being “evidence-based,” EnhanceFitness stands apart. Evidence-based means this senior fitness system has undergone scientific evaluation; it has proven to be effective, with measurable results. The findings show seniors have better balance and fewer falls requiring medical treatment (falls are the No. 1 cause of serious injuries for seniors), greater strength and endurance, better flexibility, fewer health issues (fewer visits to the doctor) and much lower incidences of depression.
Structural success
We all know exercise, conditioning and strength-building are beneficial, but they only work if we attend and participate. Taking the initiative to actively participate in fitness programs can be a challenge.
The barrier to participation can be a factor of our own personal comfort level. Do we feel at home? Are we supported by our fellow participants? Is the fitness training and exercise age-appropriate? Does the instructor understand and respect our personal limitations? Do they make accommodations for things like bad backs, weak knees and aggravated hips?
Part of the success of EnhanceFitness is the structure. Certified instructors who have backgrounds in exercise science lead the sessions. To become certified, instructors take 12 hours of training specific to the program; safety is a key component.
Each session is 60 minutes. Sessions begins with a warm-up, followed by a 20-minute aerobic workout. There’s a short cool-down, then 20 minutes of strength training, followed by stretching and balance exercises.
Participants are encouraged to attend two to three times a week. Each location has a core group of participants; seniors benefit from the socialization.
Silver Sneakers is an additional exercise opportunity available in the Puget Sound region. This benefit is part of many Medicare Advantage health insurance plans and provides no-cost access to area fitness centers and programs. Senior-focused curricula are available at some locations.
But if you exercise alone, motivation must come from within. You’ll need to develop a safe and age-appropriate exercise regimen to which you’ll adhere — this works for some but not all.
No matter how you go about it in the new year, commit to a regular exercise and conditioning program. Then you’ll enjoy the benefits of a lifetime of fitness.
For more information about EnhanceFitness, visit www.projectenhance.org/enhancefitness.aspx.
For Silver Sneakers locations, visit www.silversneakers.com/tools/fitness-locations.
MARLA BECK is the founder and president of Andelcare Inc., which provides in-home eldercare. Submit questions by calling (206) 838-1844 or via e-mail to marla@andelcare.com.