OPERATIONAL EXCELLENCE
Person-centered approach For example, every SRG community has a walking club. To add variety and enrich- ment, members go to places like museums to take their walks. Exercise classes are designed to feel more like play. Zest Cardio Beat is one of the most popular: Participants learn choreographed dance routines using stability balls as props. It’s so popular that it has a waiting list at most communities. The soul component of Zest involves
more meditative pursuits such as paint-and- sip classes or aromatherapy sessions. Taking a person-centered approach to
fitness allows SRG’s Zest programs to be adapted to an individual resident’s abilities. “What Zest is really all about is meeting res- idents where they are in their life, because we can adapt any activity,” Matyko says. An 87-year-old resident at SRGʼs The
Village at Northridge had a lifelong desire to skydive. His wish was fulfilled at an in- door “skydiving” facility that uses a vertical wind tunnel to simulate the experience of jumping from a plane. The resident said afterward that it had been the best day of his life. Those kinds of experiences can have
long-lasting health benefits for residents. “Every component of Zest, from the literal meaning of the word all the way down to the experiential programming that we offer, is grounded in science,” Matyko says.
Free-standing fitness At Five Star Senior Living, fitness program- ming is provided by Ageility, a division of Five Star’s parent company, AlerisLife. Ageility offers fitness and rehabilitation
services for older adults at Five Star commu- nities as well as in free-standing clinics and for other operators. The scalable programs include classes for small and large groups and one-on-one personal training. “Our fitness programs are designed to
help older adults reach their physical poten- tial, regardless of their specific constraints and condition,” says Denise Kelly, senior vice president of lifestyle services at AlerisLife. One-on-one activities are customized
for each person based on their abilities and interests. One current client is a Five Star resident training to participate in the Na- tional Senior Games in May.
32 SENIOR LIVING EXECUTIVE MAY/JUNE 2022
Physical therapist Niraj Tankaria helps Ann O’Keefe improve strength and flexibility to make climbing stairs easier, for instance.
Knowing the science While most older adults don’t plan to become athletes, it is important for everyone to remain as active as possible. Physical activity plays a large role in mitigating or even preventing many chronic conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and dementia. Older adults with stronger muscles are less likely to experi- ence joint injuries. Exercise is also proven to help manage depression and anxiety. Adding a social component by exercising
with others is even more beneficial. MIT AgeLab conducted a study of the Silver Sneakers exercise program in partnership with Tivity Health. The study found that older adults who participated in the pro- gram not only benefitted from the physical activity itself, but they were also less lonely and had better overall health.
Although a person’s current condition
must be taken into account when planning any fitness program, Kelly cautions against treating older adults too delicately. “Many rehab and fitness providers are
so worried about injury that they actually neglect to challenge older adults,” she says. That lack of challenge can lead some older people to give up on trying to be healthy. “A major benefit of Ageility is that we
have an understanding of how much to challenge older adults,” Kelly says. In 2021 Ageility rolled out a new wellness
program for people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia. The program is called MOVE, for Motivate, Optimize, Val- idate, and Engage. It has three components: traditional exercises to improve balance, strength, and endurance; stress manage-
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