Retired...or ReWired? Episode 11: Fitness for Older Adults

11.  Fitness:

Physical fitness and training for elderly.

Mike Waters

Mike is Director  of Health promotion at Timber Hill Athletic Club for the last 12 years.   

He has a graduate  degree in exercise physiology – adult fitness  ( heart disease prevention)   and he works on “healthy aging” in club members, and the community.

His primary experience is in worksite health promotion program management and development         

Discussion

• What does it mean to be old?  What’s your age cut-off for elderly?
• The fitness industry must adapt to a huge population of boomers who’s physical and psycho-social needs are different than younger populations.  
• What do you mean by psycho-social needs?
• Don’t people get to an age where, let’s face it, it’s too late for exercise to have any benefit?  Isn’t it more of a hazardous activity at some point in life?
• Boomers want functional fitness to be able to do things, play with grandkids.  How does “functional fitness” differ from other kinds of fitness? 
• Elders want to be functional in the final stage – years of their lives.  How should a fitness program evolve from say, age 60, over the next 20-30 years?
• What about living in the city---talk about hiking and biking opportunities…
• What about skiing?  I belong to a “70 Plus” ski club that has members in their 90’s.  Do you think that’s a good thing?
• What about dancing?  Do you think this is something we should be doing more of?
•  Do you agree with CDC recommends two kinds of exercises for seniors:

                        1. aerobic: 30 minutes, 5 times/week

                        2, muscle/strengthening:  2 or more times/week…all major muscle groups

                        They say that only c. 1/3^rd of US pop. over age 65 gets this level of exercise….

• What is it about muscle building that is important for older folks?  We’re not trying to show off our physique over spring break.   What’s the deal with strength training?
• What about stretching/flexibility---how important is yoga and other stretching vs aerobic/muscular?
• Do you think it’s true that “sitting is the new smoking?”
• Are you familiar with Tai Chi?  Do you think it’s something older folks should be doing?
• Isn’t there a danger in over-exercising?  How does a person recognize their limits---know how far to go? 
• What do you think of the digital watch fitness programs that track body metrics and steps?
• Aside from health clubs and fitness centers, do you think
• Is there a need for group exercise activities for elders in say public squares?  Should the City of Portland be organizing group exercises for elders in public parks?

Lauren Hunter, City Parks & Rec

• Five year round centers:  “the big five.”              
  • EP
  • Mt. Scott
  • MATT
  • South west
  • Charles Johnson
• Plus other, smaller community centers
• Classes:  water classes, pastels, writing, performance art, memoirs, geneology
• No. of users: send out 8,000 guides
• Hiking program:  three levels
  • Motion movers (2 hours)
  • Hikes for health (6 hours(
  • Wilderness (very fit)
• Budget?    Fees: c. $50,000/year
• Volunteers:  had a dinner for 209 (70 core members)
  • Intensive training
• Most popular programs
  • Van excursions (160 per year)
  • Hiking program