Seniors benefit from CCRC structure
A recent edition of USA Today carried the headline – “Older, wiser, but less active. Why won’t seniors take the best medicine – exercise?” The article went on to cite a report issued this year by the National Institute of Aging showing that the physical activity trend for older adults was a flat line from 1997 through 2006. The data, collected in 2006 and released earlier this year, shows 22% of adults age 65 to 74 engaged in regular physical activity. These figures were 20% for adults age 75 to 84 and 9% for adults age 85 and older. These are roughly the same percentages as the 1997 data. The article points out that this is somewhat at odds with news stories and advertisements portraying “the new breed of fit, vibrant oldsters dancing, tai-chiing and power-walking their way through retirement.”
The premise of the article was that simple exercise, such as walking regularly, has tremendous benefits but that seniors are caught in the same culture of inactivity as the population as a whole. As I read this, I wished they would have surveyed residents of CCRCs. Time and time again we hear how residents who engaged in very little exercise when living in their own home have become regular patrons of the community’s fitness center. This is a great reminder of the power of community and the benefit CCRC residents gain by having a staff and facilities to provide a convenient structure. Taking “the best medicine” is a little easier in these environments. This is a powerful message and one that should not be ignored in senior living marketing.
