March 2, 2009 |
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Holy Cross Sparks Senior Fit Craze
Trinity Health’s Community Benefit Program Sweeps the Nation
Sofie’s exercise program gives her a reason to get up in the morning. Jim’s workout has reduced his blood pressure medication by a third. Rozalyn points to her exercise class as the only possible reason for no longer needing shots to control her anemia. In addition to belonging to the same program, these three people have one other thing in common: they are all octogenarians – 89, 81 and 85, respectively.
It’s called Senior Fit Trinity and it is the Trinity Health’s first system-wide community benefit program. Developed at Holy Cross Hospital (Silver Spring), this multi-component, evidence-based exercise program for adults 55 years and older has been replicated at Mercy Hospital – Cadillac, Mercy Medical Center – Sioux City, Saint Joseph Mercy Health System (Ann Arbor), St. Joseph Mercy Oakland and Saint Joseph Regional Medical Center (South Bend).
In fact, Holy Cross Hospital won an Excellence and Innovation Award in the category of Rapid Replication of Innovation for its development and promotion of Senior Fit at the Trinity Health Annual Conference in November.
“The program targets a specific and vulnerable population: seniors, who are often medically underserved and socially isolated. Senior Fit Trinity has tremendous potential for impacting seniors across the nation,” said Wendy Friar, Vice President, Community Health, Holy Cross Hospital. “This truly is a universal program because it can be taught to a whole host of people with varying levels of fitness and is conducted at a variety of venues – large and small hospitals, schools, chapels, park department facilities, community centers and more.”
Sarah McKechnie, Manager, Community Fitness, Holy Cross Hospital, added, “The purpose is to get seniors from inactive to active. Once they get started, Senior Fit becomes an important part of their lives.”
In addition to the obvious physical benefits of exercise, the program also promotes emotional and social advantages. “Exercise can be a key component in battling depression,” McKechnie noted.
Aurora, 75, said, “I have been a widow for two years and suffer from depression. This class has helped me to overcome it.” Eighty-nine-year-old Sophie said, “I made a wonderful friend who drives me.” Rozalyn, 85, added, “I am certain that the socialization has improved my attitude.”
Jen Hrebec, Exercise Specialist, conducts the program at Mercy-Cadillac. “It seems as though every time I send a ‘report card’ to one of the participant’s physicians with the senior’s pre- and post-test results, the doctor’s office calls me wanting more information about how they can get other patients enrolled,” she said.
The size of the program varies at each Ministry Organization. Holy Cross Hospital has an enrollment of 2,400 participants and 19 sites. Saint Joseph-South Bend has two classes at two sites with approximately 500 encounters per month. Saint Joseph-Ann Arbor has one class that meets three times a week with an enrollment of 50.
Instructor Bettye Green at Saint Joseph-South Bend, herself a senior, exercises with her class and has lost 30 pounds. “Our two programs are on opposite ends of the city,” she said. “One is African-American and the other is predominantly white. I like to tell each group how well the other one is doing for a bit of friendly competition!”
Seventy-three-year-old Harry attends Senior Fit in Silver Spring with his wife. He noted that the program, used as an adjunct to physical therapy for knee, shoulder and spine surgeries, has considerably improved his stamina and flexibility. “I feel like I have enough energy to do whatever I want!” he said.
Call to Care Funds are available for Ministry Organizations that want to replicate Senior Fit Trinity, and Holy Cross Hospital provides a complete toolkit and ongoing support.