A Healthy Vision

For more than 30 years, National Senior Health and Fitness Day has been celebrated on the last Wednesday of May. It is a day dedicated to the betterment of the health of seniors. The common goal is to help senior Americans stay fit and healthy.

With this year’s National Senior Health and Fitness Day scheduled for May 28, Independent Health’s Corporate Wellness Team would like to remind Western New York seniors that it’s never too late to start getting active. You can add physical activity into your life in a variety of simple ways. Not only will it make you feel better, but it may even help you live longer, too.

“Regular physical activity has been shown to be an important means of improving your overall health and well-being as you get older,” said Michelle Carbery, Senior Corporate Wellness Specialist for Independent Health. “Staying fit and active can help you maintain muscle strength, flexibility, and balance, which reduces the risk of falls and injuries that can affect your ability to live on your own. It can also lower your risk of chronic conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and dementia. Plus, being physically active can help improve your mood and keep your mind sharp.”

Physical activity guidelines

If you are 65 or older, experts recommend that you should incorporate aerobic, muscle-strengthening and balance activities into your life. Get at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity on a weekly basis. This could be 30 minutes a day, five days a week. In addition, dedicate at least two days to activities that strengthen muscles and improve balance. To see what counts as aerobic, muscle-strengthening and balance activities, visit the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.

If you have trouble meeting these recommendations, don’t be discouraged. Instead, Carbery says to try to be as physically active as your abilities and conditions allow.

“If you haven’t been active for a long time, you may have no idea where to start. You can add regular physical activity into your daily routine in a variety of simple ways. Ask your doctor which exercises are safe for you to do,” said Carbery. “The important thing is to take that first step—and make that first step a small one. Start slowly and increase your activity slowly over time. Remember that some physical activity is better than none at all. Your health benefits will also increase with the more physical activity that you do.”

Get moving with Independent Health

Understanding the importance of exercise and physical activity play as we age, Independent Health provides its Medicare Advantage plan members with various benefits, programs and activities that make it easier for them to get healthy and stay healthy throughout the year. Here are just a few examples:

• SilverSneakers® fitness program  – Most Independent Health Medicare Advantage plans include the SilverSneakers fitness program to help make it easier for our members to improve their overall fitness and keep their body and mind strong. SliverSneakers provides a nationwide network of participating gym and community locations with group fitness classes at select locations*. There are also live online SilverSneakers classes and workshops led by specially trained instructors that are offered seven days a week. Plus, there is no activation fee to join the program.

• Medicare Health Hub – Through Independent Health’s Medicare Health Hub, we offer a variety of in-person and virtual health and wellness activities so that our Medicare members can achieve better health. This includes low-impact exercise classes that are designed to increase your strength, improve your balance and stay and boost your overall well-being. All fitness levels welcome. Our Medicare Health hub is located inside our Medicare Information Center at 620 Dick Road in Depew.

• Wellness discounts – Independent Health’s Wellness Discounts Program provides our Medicare members with a variety of ways to save money on staying fit every day of the year. More than 500 community partners and local businesses currently offer exclusive discounts exclusively for our members, from “Freebies” and “Buy One, Get One Free” offers to savings of up to 30% off of health and wellness-related items, services and experiences. To take advantage of these valuable discounts, members simply need to do is show their Independent Health member ID card.

• Community-wide initiatives – Independent Health works with a variety of local partners to help Western New Yorkers of all ages get healthy and have fun at the same time. For instance, seniors can explore the cities of Buffalo, Niagara Falls and Tonawanda with Reddy Bikeshare; enjoy the day at Outer Harbor Buffalo, where they can take part in a free outdoor fitness class, rent kayaks and bikes at a discounted rate and get some fresh air on the 3-mile Independent Health Wellness Trail; or get their steps in with Wellness Walks every Thursday at Tifft Nature Preserve.

Stay safe by being smart

As always, talk with your doctor before you start a new exercise routine or if you’re worried about how exercise might affect your health. Based on your individual needs and abilities, your doctor will advise you on different options for physical activity and provide recommendations. If you’re already active, ask your doctor if there is anything you should change to stay safe as your body and health change.

“When you exercise, it’s normal to have some minor muscle and joint soreness. However, other signs may point to something more serious” said Carbery. “Make sure you work with your doctor to know when to stop exercising and what to do if you are experiencing ongoing soreness or pain that’s more than just minor.”

SilverSneakers is a registered trademark of Tivity Health, Inc.*Membership includes SilverSneakers instructor-led group fitness classes. Some locations offer members additional classes. Classes vary by location.

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