Arlington Council On Aging Awarded Grant For Fitness Programs

ARLINGTON, MA — The Council On Aging has received a grant to assist with virtual exercise classes for those living with dementia in Arlington.

With the $7,800 grant from the I'm Still Here Foundation, the COA will offer a variety of programs to residents living with dementia and their caregivers through a virtual platform. These programs will run for one year, starting with yoga and general exercise before advancing to different levels of cardiovascular exercise, stretching and meditation.

The COA will train and educate instructors on dementia-related topics to best accommodate the needs of the memory-impaired and their caretakers. The programs will be inclusive and accessible, allowing participants to choose their level of difficulty and have fun while exercising with a member of their family or other caretakers.

Classes will begin in August and run through July 2022.

"We are excited to begin this new exercise program and help bring residents together in a virtual, healthy and inclusive setting," Council On Aging Executive Director Kristine Shah said. "Thank you to the I’m Still Here Foundation for their generous donation. Throughout this process, we have used their core values to help us achieve our goals for our residents living with dementia."

The I'm Still Here Foundation's mission is to sponsor and support community engagement programs for people living with dementia based on their principles of non-pharmacological treatment. To learn more about the Foundation and its goals, visit their website.