April 6, 2022
“In January 2020, the Board of Directors of the AVA: America’s Walking Club, declared the first seven days of April to be “National Walking Week” which would include the traditional “National Walking Day” sponsored by the American Heart Association from 2007 to 2019.”
At Hudson Grande Senior Living in Hudson, OH, we strive to make sure that our residents stay active and healthy to ensure they enjoy their golden years in the best ways possible! Each of our residents has unique interests when it comes to fitness – some enjoy walking outdoors at local parks while others get their workout in at our cardio drumming classes. With that in mind, we adapt our fitness programs according to the tastes of our residents, utilizing both in-house fitness classes and our vendor partnerships to provide a variety of choices for our residents to stay active. Due to our unique resident group, the classes we provide may vary from those of our sister communities so that we are all meeting the needs of our individual residents.
As the Resident Services Director, I motivate my residents to stay active by creating a fun and positive environment for more active events. It has created an exciting drive for residents to get involved and encouraged other residents to attend with them. Listening to the feedback that our residents give to us regarding the event schedule is crucial to understanding how to provide the most beneficial programming possible.
At Hudson Grande we try to think outside of the box with unique fitness activities, while still sticking to traditional events. Theming our exercises and participating in live sessions with other communities provides a considerable amount of variety in our active programming. We also do things like Olympic events when the games are happening, holiday themed scavenger hunts to get the residents up and active for extended periods of time, and of course, our walking club!
When we think of celebrating National Walking Week, we don’t just see a way to stay active. We see an opportunity to interact with those in our communities and meet new friends along the way. In celebration of this week, walkers are encouraged to find the motivation to get active.
We will celebrate National Walking Week by revamping our walking club to a more involved event, rather than an independently led activity. By doing this, staff will be able to provide more support so that all residents that wish to participate are able to do so. It will allow more time for the staff to make one-on-one connections. We will also be incentivizing participation with foot charms, something for the residents to collect and boast about!
As we continue a walking effort throughout the year, I’m looking at creating a social sense around the walking event to show the cognitive, emotional, and physical benefits from participating. Hopefully this will lend to the sustainability of our programming and increase all aspects of health for our residents.
If you would like to participate in National Walking Week efforts in your area, visit https://ava.org/national-walking-week/ to find out more!
The Plaza at Wildwood in Wildwood, MO offers independent living plus, assisted living, and memory care with a variety of services and a range of floor plan options. Amenities include restaurant dining, 24-hour bistro, concierge service, housekeeping, events and entertainment, personal care, transportation services, and more. We are centrally located near Mercy Hospital with convenient access to attractions, including Pevely Farms Golf Club, B&B Theatres Wildwood 10, Wildwood Community Park, YMCA Wildwood, and the Hidden Valley Ski Resort.
