For seniors, even the seemingly simple tasks – opening a jar, climbing up the stairs, or getting out of bed – become more difficult with age.
A seniors’ fitness program in St. Albert has recently been expanded to help change that.
The Active Anytime Anywhere initiative by Alberta Health Services has been operating out of the Sturgeon Foundation’s North Ridge Lodge for the past three years. Twice-weekly group exercise sessions began at Chateau Mission Court last May.
Instructor Hilary Newman-Shalagan has been teaching the program in the Edmonton region since 2009. She caters the exercise regimen to the health and mobility of the people that drop in.
On a Tuesday morning in the basement of North Ridge Lodge, four residents sit in a circle and march their legs up and down while seated to get their muscles warmed up. After limbering up their arms in a similar fashion, the ladies are ready for more – Newman-Shalagan then wheels in the free weights and resistance bands.
By having seniors incorporate different types of physical activity into their daily routine – strength, endurance and flexibility – Newman-Shalagan explained the benefits of exercise for seniors are numerous. Fitness doesn’t just increase endurance, strength, flexibility, range of motion and lowers blood pressure, it also improves balance and prevents falls.
In Alberta, falls are the leading cause of injury for seniors’ hospital admissions. According to Finding Balance Alberta, a fall prevention campaign coordinated by the Alberta Centre for Injury Control & Research, one in three seniors living in the community and more than 40 per cent of those living in institutions experience a fall each year.
“If we can prevent one hip fracture that costs between $20,000 and $30,000 to treat in hospital, then it’s a benefit to them and a huge impact on their quality of life,” added program coordinator Janet Greer.
She explained another focus of the program is to help seniors maintain their independence, well into their golden years.
Rita Crozier attends the sessions twice weekly at North Ridge.
Raised on a farm near Namao and a 4-H member for the majority of her life, Crozier said she was always on the go. Keeping fit with Active Anytime Anywhere now helps to keep her moving – maybe not as fast, but moving nonetheless.
“I like it very much,” said the 86-year-old. “The only other thing I did was walking and this hits on exercises and health benefits that you don’t get with just walking.”
The ladies finish up their morning exercise class with a walk around the room. Some use their walkers while others march jovially to the music.
Newman-Shalagan said sometimes she’ll end the class or hold special events for games such as sit-down volleyball or sit-down ball hockey using foam noodles instead of hockey sticks.
“You may think these ladies look demure,” she commented. “But they can really get into it. They’re very high energy.”
The Active Anytime Anywhere program is available to adults 55 years and older who have an annual household income of less than $39,000. Participants do not have to live in designated assisted living sites in order to attend.
For more information and to register call 780-735-3342.
