May is Older Americans Month in White Plains

From White Plains YMCA: May is Older Americans Month and the White Plains Family YMCA encourages all adults 50 years and older in White Plains and the surrounding areas to get motivated and develop behaviors that are crucial to healthy aging, including healthy eating, increasing physical activity and social interaction.

Adults 50 years and older currently make up more than 30 percent of the U.S. population, and will soon represent 45 percent of all Americans. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggests that adults 50 and older have a 70 percent chance of developing at least one chronic disease. While these numbers seem daunting, the good news is that making small lifestyle changes that include increasing physical activity, eating healthier and staying active socially can help older adults live better.

“The image of an older adult sitting on the porch in a rocking chair is long gone—today’s older adult is more active, engaged and in control of their health,” said Heather Bell, Associate Executive Director of the White Plains Family YMCA. Community-based organizations like the Y provide the needed guidance to help them reach health goals, particularly when it comes to chronic disease prevention.”

The Y offers many ways for older adults to live healthier including: free weekly lunch and learns sponsored by their Community Partners and open to the public, warm water lap swim and other aquatic exercise as well as several group exercise classes geared to our older active adults.

Bell continued, “We also offer all of our members a 12-Week Free Personal Fitness Program that is guided by one of our Personal Trainers”. The PFP is an evidence-based physical activity program proven to increase the physical, mental and social functioning. “The “personal” part of the program is that it is guided to the needs of the member, so for example someone with arthritis would benefit greatly from being advised to participate in our Arthritis Aquatic program and various other exercises.”

According to the CDC, 52 million Americans have arthritis, including about half of all adults over age 65. Almost 23 million Americans report that arthritis limits their physical activity. Research has shown that low-intensity physical activity performed on a regular basis can reduce pain, improve functioning, elevate mood and delay the onset of disability.

“Our Standing Strong program focuses on improving balance, muscle strength, flexibility and mobility; combating falls and better daily activity function. And it taught by a local industry expert that we are so fortunate to have at our Y, again free with membership”, Bell shared.

According to the CDC, every 14 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall and every 29 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall-related injury. Participation in this program may also result in better mental health, reduced stress, improved memory and cognition, and increased self-esteem.

The program’s safe and supportive group setting also provides an opportunity for participants to enjoy learning with like-minded adults and find relief from the isolation that can sometimes come from living with limited mobility.

For more information on how your family can live a healthy, active life, visit the White Plains Family YMCA with family memberships that have activities starting at age 3 at 250 Mamaroneck Avenue, White Plains NY 10605 or our website http://whiteplains.ymca-cnw.org/.

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