Project Enhance Programs Promote Senior Fitness

Andrea Meewes, MSW, Project Enhance

An EnhanceFitness class at Peter Kirk Community Center.

EnhanceWellness participants begin with an intake interview to their own health goals.

The "A Matter of Balance" program targets increased strength and fall prevention.

As we age, it is increasingly important to stay physically active. Physical activity has a multitude of benefits, including increased strength, better balance, and even improved mood. For many older adults, physical activity helps to manage multiple chronic conditions. In fact, research shows that getting sufficient physical activity, including strength and balance training, is one of the most important things older adults can do to prevent or manage chronic health conditions, maintain independence, and even extend life expectancy.

With physical activity, there is something out there for everyone. Beginning with small seated movements, to walking, to formal exercises classes, all people can benefit from increasing physical activity. Ernestine Robinson, an energetic 71-year old, began EnhanceFitness in 1994 as a way to stay physically active during her retirement years. Two years later, her enthusiasm about the benefits of the program led her to become an EnhanceFitness instructor at the Central Area Senior Center, where she teaches today. (Learn more about Ernestine in this month's "Welcome" article.) 

Strength conditioning, aerobic activity, balance and flexibility exercises are all core components of EnhanceFitness, an evidence-based exercise class developed by the Health Promotion Research Center at the University of Washington in partnership with Group Health Cooperative and Senior Services of Seattle/King County. Research shows that EnhanceFitness can improve the health of older adults and lower health care costs. 

Many younger adults are surprised when visiting an EnhanceFitness class. Among the frail and active older adults alike, the class is challenging to all. For some older adults, physical activity is not part of a weekly routine. Concerns about falling prevent some from attending exercise classes. Falls are indeed a major threat to the health and independence of older adults. Thirty-five percent of older adults 65 and older fall each year. Those who fall are 2-3 times more likely to fall again. Many older adults develop a fear of falling that causes them to restrict their activities, putting themselves at a greater risk for fall related injuries. 

Fortunately, there is an evidence-based intervention designed to reduce that fear of falling and increase activity levels among older adults. This intervention is A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns about Falls.  During this eight-week workshop, participants learn to view falls as controllable and set goals for increasing activity in a supportive atmosphere of peers. They also find ways to change the environment to reduce fall risk factors and learn simple exercises to increase strength and balance. 

For those who may want to increase their physical activity but have some difficulty due to a chronic condition, there are other programs that can help: EnhanceWellness and Living Well with Chronic Conditions.  With EnhanceWellness, participants work one-on-one with a health professional to envision what healthy living would look like to them, identify personal strengths and risks, and create an action plan to meet individual goals. Studies on this evidence-based intervention have shown a decrease in hospital days, psychoactive drugs, depression, and inactivity.  

In addition to EnhanceWellness, older adults can participate in an evidence-based workshop (Living Well with Chronic Conditions) that emphasizes strategies for healthy living. This workshop is led by people with chronic conditions who have been trained to introduce healthy living tools such as eating well, designing a personal exercise program, managing fatigue, breathing more easily, managing medications, relaxing and managing stress, dealing with anger, fear, and frustration, and working closer with health care teams. 

These evidence-based healthy aging programs are proven to work and are available at senior and community centers in King County and nationwide.  Visit www.projectenhance.org to find out more. Call 1-888-4ELDERS for information and assistance. To learn more about how you can become a trained facilitator for any of these interventions, contact Andrea Meewes, MSW, Project Enhance Coordinator for Seattle/King County at andream@seniorservices.org or by phone at 206-268-6736. 

Andrea Meewes, MSW, serves as Enhance Local Coordinator/Social Worker for Project Enhance, Senior Services