Staying active can help seniors avoid serious injuries from falls, a huge risk factor for this age group.Todd Korol/The Globe and Mail
Ninety-two-year-old Jean Mitchell has been active for as long as she can remember. She played sports while growing up in Saskatchewan – tennis, skating, volleyball – but admits that anything requiring hand-eye co-ordination was not where she shone.
Then she met her husband, an avid outdoorsman who believed the only way to handle a nine-to-five city job was to ditch corporate wear for outdoor gear as soon as the weekend hit. They enjoyed canoeing, overnight hiking and cross-country skiing during the nearly six decades spent together before he passed in 2014.
And while fitness looks different for Ms. Mitchell now, it remains a key part of her life. On a sunny afternoon in July, she joined a small group of residents in Calgary’s Trico LivingWell retirement community for a weekly seated exercise class, lifting weights, squatting and doing calf raises while holding on to the chair for support.
“Somebody here asked me how old I was and I told her. And she sat there for awhile and she said, ‘82 I would believe, but not 92.’ I think what really makes a difference is being active,” she said.
Ms. Mitchell, who hurt her shoulder after a recent fall, said the class is more than just a way to stay active but helps her work through the injury and build new friendships after moving in earlier this year: “There are lots of nice people, but it’s the ones that you have something in common with that make a difference.”
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There is growing recognition in Canada that fitness in long-term care or retirement residences should be a priority to promote better health, foster social connection and improve overall wellness. But there are no overarching policies that guide this type of care; rather, individual providers choose which services to offer.
Meanwhile, Canada’s population is rapidly aging and projections from Statistics Canada suggest the number of people 85 and older could triple by 2073, reaching 63 million. The long-term care workforce is already strained and pressure is building on the health care system.
And while those issues have been – and should be – front and centre in the conversation about improving seniors’ care, said University of Ottawa sociology professor Ivy Bourgeault, there should also be a focus on “adding life to years” in these settings.
That means activities as simple as grabbing a coffee in the morning, playing music with friends or participating in recreation and fitness. It’s about giving people a “sense of home” with opportunities that help both physically and mentally.
“There’s an avoidance talking about aging, but it’s something that happens to all of us,” said Dr. Bourgeault, whose research has focused on long-term care.
“We pay a lot of attention to our kids and their schools, and shouldn’t we invest that much fervour in where we are ultimately going to be? And also where our parents are ultimately going to be?”
Tyler Mah leads a seniors’ exercise class.Todd Korol/The Globe and Mail
Sitting in front of a large window at Trico, Ms. Mitchell was one of five residents participating in the sit-fit class. Fitness instructor Tyler Mah explained each exercise as he performed it himself, repeating motions several times and offering guidance to attendees as needed.
“People that have fitness ingrained in their lifestyle, they have a better quality of life,” said Mr. Mah, who added that his classes focus on strength, mobility and balance to protect against the No. 1 risk factor for this age group: falls. An injury that, if serious enough, can strip people of their independence, impacting their physical and emotional well-being.
Earlier that day, Mr. Mah taught a different class: urban pole walking. Only two residents showed up – owing to a Wal-Mart field trip taking place at the same time. One of them was Vicky Matich, a class regular who enjoys strolling in the nearby park every chance she gets.
Her walking poles hit the cement after each step, making a rhythmic sound as she followed a winding pathway. She said it’s become more difficult to move around freely since using a standing walker. The class gives her a chance to move her arms, hands and fingers, which are stationary when using her mobility device.
“I go down to eat – I’m sitting. I go back upstairs – I’m sitting. I go downstairs and generally we sit around and talk or play card games – you’re sitting. So this is an excellent purpose to do something else,” Ms. Matich said. “It’s satisfying.”
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Fitness is being fostered in other seniors’ residences across Canada, including Ivan Franko Homes in Mississauga, Ont., which largely serves Canadians of Ukrainian descent.
Chief executive Olya Vovnysh said physical activity is “not just about dumbbells or treadmills” but anything that encourages movement: Rolling and forming perogies by hand, participating in traditional Ukrainian dancing, playing piano or using virtual reality.
“It boosts your positive energy,” said Ms. Vovnysh, adding that it is a great way for residents to get out of their head and focus on what’s in front of them. “When they are participating in those types of activities, then you can see a change.”
Janina Jaksic, a 92-year-old Ivan Franko resident, is all smiles while speaking about exercise. She participates in group classes and one-on-one sessions, including with a physiotherapist and restorative aide that help with her visual impairment.
Ms. Jaksic said, in an interview that was translated from Ukrainian, that the activities keep her busy when the days “can feel so long” and help keep her spirits high.
She was recently asked by Ivan Franko to share advice about how to stay young at any age. Her response: “Move every day. Whether it’s a walk, a dance or a gentle stretch, staying physically active supports both body and spirit.”
