Taking a person-centered approach to fitness allows programs to be adapted to an individual resident’s abilities. “What Zest is really all about is meeting residents where they are in their life, because we can adapt any activity,” says Sarah Matyko, corporate director of life enrichment at SRG Senior Living.


ment activities such as yoga, walking, and massage; and enrichment programming including gardening, cooking, and art. The program is customized to each person.


A destination campus Vivalon is a nonprofit that provides services to older adults and vulnerable populations in Marin County, Calif. The organization is building a new Healthy Aging Campus in San Rafael to provide health care, fitness, and engagement opportunities for older adults in the area. The building, set to open in 2023, will have


a geriatric health clinic on the first floor, ac- tivity spaces and a café on the second floor, and more than 60 affordable senior apart- ments on the third through sixth floors. The new campus will provide a one-stop


place for older adults to stay physically, men- tally, and socially engaged. Activity spaces will include classrooms, a library, art studio, auditorium, physical therapy center, gym, and café. A computer lab will provide a space for people to learn how to use new technology and software. The multifunctional auditorium incorpo-


rates a dance studio with a barre and mirrored walls. Those features can be covered with sliding curtains to transform the space into a theater for live presentations and movies. The clinic and second-floor spaces are de-


signed by MBH Architects of Alameda, Calif. Their goal was to create a space that promotes well-being. “There’s a lot of activity going on that


helps to maintain an independent and healthy lifestyle for seniors,” says Tammy Ng, project manager and senior associate at MBH Architects. The café, clinic, and some other areas


of the campus will be open to the public, which will provide more opportunities for social interaction. The downtown location


is intended to make it easier for residents and visitors to take advantage of activities in the building and in the city surrounding it.


Fitness “house calls” For some communities, an outside con- tractor is the best way to provide fitness programming for residents. FOX Reha- bilitation is a private contractor that offers its rehabilitation and exercise physiology services in senior living communities and private homes. Although rehabilitation therapies are


most often thought of after a medical event, illness, or injury, they can have even greater rewards as a preventative measure. “Identifying small indicators of func- tional decline before a large-scale problem happens is really what therapy is great for,” says Dr. Travis King, chief quality officer at FOX Rehabilitation. For example, the right exercise program implemented in time can reduce an older adult’s risk of falls by 25 percent. Clinical changes that might lead to a fall are usu- ally apparent long before a person’s first fall. Those include difficulty rising from a chair, unsteadiness when walking, slow movements, and reduced participation in activities and meals. “Just because a person has those impair-


ment-level changes doesn’t mean that they’re going to fall tomorrow,” King says. “It does mean that if they stay on the path they’re on, they are likely to have a fall in the future.” In addition to physical therapy and rehab


services, FOX offers exercise physiology, which is more akin to personal training. The exercise physiologist is a trained professional who designs and leads exercises for people without need for a particular skill or phys- ical therapy. Exercise physiology is offered in communi- ties as part of the FOX Optimal Living well-


ness program. It’s also available to individuals who want to maintain fitness in general or continue to improve after rehab is done.


Getting over the hurdles Despite all the proven advantages of phys- ical fitness, it can sometimes be a challenge to get older adults to actually do the exercis- es that they know will help them. King, of FOX, has found that establish- ing a friendly and trusting relationship is the best foundation for motivating someone to exercise. “The relationship that’s established between a clinician and a patient or resident is important in the likelihood of improve- ment for that patient,” he says. Offering the hope of meaningful improve-


ment is also a key factor. A resident who be- lieves he may never be able to walk down to the dining room again can be encouraged if he feels his legs getting stronger after a few weeks of doing the appropriate exercises. “If we show them small gains in areas


that they thought were unattainable, then we can show them the bigger picture,” King says. Incremental improvements can restore hope and offer a reason to keep trying. “A big part of maintaining function is


to continue to do things you enjoy doing,” King says. Once a person stops participat- ing in life, they enter a downward spiral that can lead to greater limitations. That spiral can be reversed or prevented with the right proactive treatment. For true motivation, fitness goals must


also be in line with the person’s true desires. “Asking an older adult what they want to be able to do with their life is so important,” says King. Science and experience have shown that


physical fitness is not just for young people. “We’ve proven in the literature that older persons’ bodies can respond to resistance and training just like the young,” King says.


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