The Roanoker - September/October 2015 - S26

Finding Balance with Age
Health is more than physical, and wellness programs in our
area are focusing on the overall well-being of the older adults in
our community, the fastest growing age group in the U.S.

BY SAMANTHA
HOBACK

RETIRE-VA GUIDE 2016

ADULTS 65 AND OLDER ARE the fastest growing age group in the U.S. As a result of longer life
spans and aging baby boomers, the population of
older adults is expected to reach more than 72 million
in the next two decades. By 2030, seniors will account
for 20 percent of the U.S. population.
This recent rise in the number of older adults in
our communities has led to many wellness programs
designed to keep seniors healthy and happy as they
get older. National programs such as EnhanceFitness,

Walk with Ease and Active Living Every Day were established to help older adults maintain and improve
their physical health. Locally, Carilion Wellness created the Senior Moments program in 2011; it is free
to Carilion Wellness members 60 and older and offers exercise classes, social events and health education seminars.
"Our main goal with this program started and continues to be to help motivate and hold accountable
our seniors in a way that helps them to not only
get fit, but to also maintain an active lifestyle," says
Kim Treadway, group exercise manager for Carilion
Wellness.
As we age (well, for all ages, really), we need to
incorporate two types of physical activity into our
routine: aerobic activity and muscle-strengthening
activity. According to The State of Aging and Health
in America by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, regular physical activity-both aerobic
and muscle-strengthening, three days a week-is safe
and helps reduce the risk of falling.
"Falls are one of the most common injuries in seniors," says Treadway. "As we age, our need to stay
independent grows; therefore, so does our need to
remain steady and on our feet."
One form of exercise that Treadway recommends
for seniors is aqua aerobics. "Seniors do need to try
to keep their exercise low impact, as it is easier on
joints and bones. But they also need to try to incorporate strength training of some sort, which helps
maintain bone mass as they age." Aqua aerobics, she
says, is the perfect combination because moving with
and against the buoyancy of the water allows seniors
to burn calories and build strength simultaneously.
Wellness programs such as Senior Moments are
about more than physical health. Mental and emotional health are just as important as physical health,
which is why members of Carilion's program enjoy
social events such as monthly potlucks as part of their
wellness routine.
"Seniors are at a point in their lives where they
should be able to take it easier and enjoy their lives,"
says Treadway. "To move often, just slower. To do
things they love, just in moderation. To work out,
just at a pace that's comfortable for them."
And to have fun while they're getting fit. "Laughter.
That's a big one! Not only is it a great core workout,
it's simply good for the soul, and there's not much
that makes us feel better than to see our seniors have
fun and laugh together and with us," says Treadway.
Physical health is essential to the overall well-being of older adults, but no less important than their
happiness. As much as we can do for our seniors,
they can still offer more for us. "Our seniors matter
an awful lot to us here at Carilion Wellness," says

The Roanoker - September/October 2015

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