Contact: Shirley Williams
313-446-4444, ext. 5335
“DETROIT ACTIVE FOR LIFE” PARTNERSHIP TEACHES OLDER ADULTS HOW TO BECOME ACTIVE FOR LIFE™
Exercise is an essential part in active living. Research shows regular exercise increases life spans by holding off age-related ills – but it also helps by reducing an individuals chances of developing debilitating chronic diseases.
Sadly, high incidences of chronic disease are especially paramount in Detroit. Recently, the Detroit Area Agency on Aging commissioned researchers at Wayne State University to do a comparison health studies on seniors living in metropolitan Detroit as opposed to seniors living throughout the rest of Michigan.
The Wayne State University studies found that seniors aged 60 and older in Detroit were dying at an alarmingly high rate – twenty percent higher than seniors living anywhere else in Michigan. Seniors in Detroit reported higher frequencies of chronic health conditions – such as diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.
Unfortunately, statistics show that only 32% of adults 65 and older exercise regularly. A good exercise program can benefit seniors in many ways. Physical activity improves in lung capacity, blood pressure, heart rate and circulation. It also lowers cholesterol, decreases body fat and slows the effects of aging. Keeping fit is one of the most important steps older adults can take to prevent the loss of independence that often leads to life in a nursing home.
Exercise not only improves the physical health of seniors but it also promotes their emotional well- being. Doctors now advise depressed seniors to begin an exercise program to help combat the disease. A study by the National Academy on an Aging Society found that 57 percent of well-adjusted seniors engage in light exercise at least three times a week as compared to 32 percent of the same-aged seniors who were depressed. The key to healthy aging is to get up and moving
In an effort to combat inactivity in Detroit’s older adults, The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has awarded “Detroit Active for Life” - a collaboration of Detroit Area Agency on Aging, The Greater Detroit Area Health Council and Wayne State University’s Community Health Institutes - a four-year grant to help sedentary seniors become physically fit.
“Detroit Active for Life” is based on a behavioral change model developed by the Cooper Institute in Dallas And Human Kinetics. Project participants will meet weekly in small groups for five months to develop the behavioral skills needed to build moderate to vigorous physical activity into their daily lives.
The Detroit Active for Life model is unique because it employs the efforts of a network of churches, community centers and senior centers. This collaboration enhances and expands the outreach of Detroit Active for Life by including organizations that have access to seniors in a variety of settings.
The Detroit Active for Life program’s objective is to target 1300 sedentary adults age 50 and older who are without serious health conditions or disabilities that would limit their ability to engage in non-medically supervised physical activity programs.
The Detroit Active for Life project will coordinate and administer group meetings in four community locations lead through Cass Community Social Services, New Calvary Baptist Church, Northwest Neighborhood Health Empowerment Center and Virginia Park Citizens Services Corporation.
The key to a successful exercise program is finding the program that is right for you. The first step is to check with your doctor before starting any exercise regimen. The next step is to find an activity that you enjoy. The last step is to GET MOVING! Remember, the benefits of exercise are many and the risks are few if any.