The Healthy Aging Association was incorporated in 2000 as a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization. In early 1999, the Stanislaus County Area Aging Agency on Aging contracted with a local certified fitness instructor to design a pilot exercise program for seniors age 60 and over. The result was the formation of Healthy Aging Association's Young At Heart Fitness Classes. All Young at Heart classes are neighborhood based to eliminate the transportation barrier for many community-dwelling older adults. Our Young at Heart program has grown from only 4 class locations to over 30 class locations in Stanislaus County.
Invest in Aging!
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Our goals are fall and disease prevention to help our community live independently longer. We provide fitness classes, educate on healthy living, physical fitness, and disease prevention.
Falls result in major adverse outcomes in older adults such as injury, institutionalization, and sometimes, even death. One third of community-residing adults over over the age of 65 fall each year (Verghese, Holtzer, Lipton, & Wang, 2009). Costs associated with falls among older adults are one of the 20 most medical conditions and is expected to reach $67.7 billion annually (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2012). These alarming estimates have led to the development of fall risk assessments and fall prevention programs, such as Young at Heart Fitness Classes. Our Young at Heart Fitness classes are targeted towards physical frailty and functional fitness. The Young at Heart Fitness Programs can help community dwelling older adults, maintain everyday function and help decrease the risk of falling by increasing/maintaining strength, increasing range of motion with stretching, and improve balance with balance activities. Maintaining strength, flexibility, and balance is important to help individuals stay strong, active, and independent. |
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Our 2020-2021 Program Overview
Young at Heart Fitness Classes
Young at Heart Strength Training is our main program that targets physical frailty and functional fitness. These classes assist older adults to help maintain everyday function and to help decrease the risk of falling by maintaining or increasing strength, increasing range of motion, and improving balance. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, we offered our program virtually, with four (twice-a-week) weekly online fitness classes. These classes were taught by a "live" certified instructor to help participants feel connected even while apart.
Young at Heart S.T.E.P.S.
Senior Tracking Exercise in Perfect Strides Two annual 12-week walking challenges are offered annually to encourage participants to increase their physical activity level. Participants receive weekly motivational emails and adherence calls. At the end of the challenge all participants were invited to a drive-thru brunch. Participants can walk anywhere at any time!
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Go Green for Seniors, Green Bag
The Go Green for Seniors - Green Bag Program gives low income older adults and persons with disabilities 10-pounds of fruits and vegetables once a month. 359 individuals received our services in a modified fashion due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Distributions and presentations were transformed into drive-thru distributions with handouts of nutritional and COVID-19 information. Distribution locations in Modesto, Grayson, Patterson, Oakdale, and Riverbank.
Dignity At Home Program
This new program provides home assessments, fall prevention education, with the possibility of injury prevention accessories to qualifying individuals 60 and older or person with disabilities who are at risk of falling in Stanislaus County. Injury prevention accessories available through this program include: Night lights, File of Life magnets, grab bars in the bathroom and/or as handrails, hand held shower heads, non-skid surfaces for showers and/or tubs, shower seats, toilet safety frames, toilet risers, bed railings, and threshold items. August 1, 2020 - June 30, 2021 = 74 Total Households Served
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