Northwestern Health Sciences University reaches out to senior citizens

January 7, 2010 — The university will offer strengthening classes in 2010 to senior citizens through a program called Silver Sneakers. The program is designed as a comprehensive older-adult physical activity program that addresses the needs of the Medicare population. Participants have the opportunity to take classes and/or use workout facilities, depending on the location. Northwestern will offer a class called Muscular Strength & Range of Movement, starting Jan. 5, 2010.

Classes will be taught by various staff from the Research and Rehab Clinic, including Jacob Herbst, MA, and Kayla Kelly, MA, exercise therapists; and Claire Legendre, research project coordinator.

Seniors can participate if their health plan benefits include the Silver Sneakers program. The program is designed and funded by Healthways, which supplied all the equipment that will be used at the class offered at Northwestern. They provided chairs, exercise bands and hand weights, the class curriculum, and training for the instructors.

Source: Northwestern Health Sciences University, www.nwhealth.edu/nwtoday/index.html