Fitness & Health Programs in Stanislaus County

Fitness, Health, and Fall Prevention Programs for Older Adults

We are dedicated to providing quality programs for older adults here in our community. Our focus is Fitness, health and fall prevention programs. We have many different programs, we are sure to have one that fits your needs and goals.

Fitness and Fall Prevention Programs

Have you noticed your body becoming a little stiff? Is your balance and strength just not what it used to be? Do not fear, you are not alone. Many people have not been as active as they hoped to be over the years. However, you can feel better, improve your balance and strength by adding physical activity into your weekly routine. We have many options for you ranging from exercise by yourself indoors, walking outside, or joining an online class.

We have 4 options to help you achieve your fitness goals:
1) Young at Heart Strength Training
2) Tai Chi/Tai Ji Quan
3) Line Dancing
4) Young at Heart S.T.E.P.S. 12-Week Walking Challenges

2 Options to assist you further with your Fall Prevention efforts to keep you independent with each passing day.
5) Dignity At Home - Fall Prevention Program
6) A Matter of Balance - Managing Your Concerns About Falls
Continue scrolling for more details on the above programs.

1) Young at Heart Strength Training (YAH)
These fitness classes have been in Stanislaus County since 2000. Each year over 1,300 older adults participate in our 30+ community based classes. Each class meets for one-hour and are lead by trained and certified volunteer instructors. This program is a practice tested intervention that has been shown to reduce the risk of falling.

Here are three links to better assist you;

New since April 2020, Virtual Online Classes

To register for an online for the online class please call (209) 525-4670.

Here are five things that make YAH unique:
1. The class focuses on the full body and works on strength, balance, and flexibility.
2. The goal of the program is to keep participants functioning and to help reduce the risk of falling.
3. The class uses resistance tubes (4 levels of resistance) instead of free weights to reduce injury, to be used by even the most arthritic hands, and for easy storage.
4. The class is a place of group camaraderie and many participants have stated that these classes help reduce depression and help them to be more social.

How to join a YAH Class

Select a class location. Call (209)525-4670 to find a location closest to you, or find a class by zip code by clicking the following: Class Locations
Purchase your equipment (Tubes are used in every class) by calling the office (209)525-4670.
Arrive at your class 15 minutes early to complete the pre-class paperwork and registration.
There are no registration fees, so come and join the fun!

2) Tai Chi and Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance
Try this effective exercise program for preventing falls. Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention works through improving balance, confidence and muscular strength. These classes are typically offered through-out the community.

Tai Chi - Saint Paul's Episcopal Church - 1528 Oakdale Rd., Modesto 95355 - Vaccinations Required | Class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance - Stanislaus Veterans Center - 3500 Coffee Rd., Ste. 19, Modesto, CA 95355 | Class meets on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30 P.M. - s:30 P.M. Beginning in January 2024

3) Line Dancing
Try this new program offered by Healthy Aging Association. It is a great addition to your weekly fitness routine. It may improve your heart health, memory, and over all balance.

You can join this once a week class. Please select one of the options, cannot join both days or switch between the two.

Join us at the Stanislaus Veterans Center - 3500 Coffee Rd., Ste. 19, Modesto, CA 95355

*Class is at capacity, call (209) 525-4670 to be added to the waiting list
Tuesdays - time shared with those enrolled
Fridays - time shared with those enrolled

4) Walking Challenges & Safe Walking Routes
Walking is the easiest way to get active and improve your health. No equipment is needed to start walking, just a good pair of comfortable and secure shoes and a little motivation. Many people struggle with motivation to get moving and to stay active. That is why we created tools to help you be a little more successful in reaching your walking goals. We have our S.T.E.P.S. Walking Challenges and Safe Walking Routes to assist you.

S.T.E.P.S. 12-Week Walking Challenges
(Seniors Tracking Exercise in Perfect Strides)
We offer two annual 12-week walking challenges to encourage and motivate participants to increase their physical activity level in their own neighborhood, at a local park, by utilizing our S.T.E.P.S. Safe Walking Routes, or by walking in the Vintage Faire Mall. During the challenge we offer motivational emails and accountability phone calls. At the end of the challenge we bring everyone together for an Awards brunch, where we recognize all our walkers and reward them for their miles walked.

This program is offered twice a year in partnership with Central Valley Medical Group, Walmart and The Vintage Faire Mall.

Fall Challenge: August - October
Spring Challenge: February - May

S.T.E.P.S. Safe Walking Routes
Healthy Aging Association saw there was a need for measured, accurate, and safe walking routes for older adults to walk. Due to this need, brochures were created in partnership with City Parks and Recreation to provide routes with smooth walking surfaces, places to rest, areas to re-hydrate, and with protected/safe intersections. We encourage older adults and their community to organize walking groups and walk for health and wellness in their surrounding community.
*All Materials and Brochures Funded by USDA SNAP-ED, an equal opportunity provider and employer

Download our S.T.E.P.S. Safe Walking Routes Tri-Folds Today!

Downtown Modesto - English / Spanish (created in 2018)
Patterson - English / Spanish (created in 2019)
Downtown Ceres - English (created in 2018)

5) Dignity At Home - Fall Prevention
Healthy Aging Association is collaborating with the Stanislaus Area Agency on Aging (AAA) to provide you with a new available program called Dignity At Home Fall Prevention (available starting August 1, 2020)
The Dignity At Home program provides in-home environmental assessments, fall prevention education, and injury prevention accessories to qualifying individuals 60 and older or persons with disabilities who are at risk of falling in Stanislaus County.

Dignity At Home Program Guidelines:

Be at least 60 years of age or disabled
At a risk of falling or have had a fall

What the program involves:

Phone interview to qualify.
In-home environmental assessment.
Education and information on fall prevention.
If recommended, installation of injury prevention accessories.

Potential Injury Prevention Accessories:

Bath bench or shower chair
Hand-held shower head
Non-slip bath mat
Bedside pole
Toilet rails
Grab bars

To get this process started, contact the Senior Information Line at (209)558-8698.

6) A Matter of Balance - An Evidence Based Program
This program is specifically designed for older adults to increase their physical activity level and to help reduce their fear of falling. These classes consist of eight 2-hour sessions with small in-person group discussion.

Class participants will learn to view falls as controllable, be able to set goals for increasing activity and find ways to change their environment to reduce fall risk factors.
This program is designed for older adults who are concerned about falls, have had a fall, and maybe have restricted activities because of concerns about falling.
These classes are typically taught in a small in-person group setting. New starting in 2021, classes will be offered in a virtual format, from the comfort of your own home.
Click here to see how this program has impacted your peers in our community (MOB Storybook)
Download the Program Brochure today (Outside/Inside)
Contact Healthy Aging Association at (209)525-4670 for more information and on class availability. Sessions typically run in the Spring and Fall.

Upcoming A Matter of Balance Classes
*Call our office to be put on the waitlist for upcoming classes.

Health & Nutrition

Physical activity is so very important, but it works best when paired with a health and nutritious lifestyle. Nothing in this life can work alone or by ones self and that goes for your body as well. Practicing good nutrition habits and pairing it with an active lifestyle could lead to a longer, healthier, more independent life. So take a look at what we offer to help you lead a healthier life.

Nutrition Education funded in part by USDA SNAP-Ed, an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

"Go Green for Seniors" Fruit and Vegetable Distribution
This program offers 10 pound bags of fruits and vegetables to income qualifying individuals over the age of 60 once a month. At each distribution, participants gain useful nutrition information and tips and tricks to be healthier. The program typically consist of a 30-minute nutrition presentation followed by the distribution of fruits and vegetables provided in partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank. A special thanks to our program sponsors for making this program possible: MTC Distributing and the Stanislaus Senior Foundation.

Here are three links to better assist you:

How to join in the Green Bag Program
Meet the following Guidelines:

Be at least 60 years of age and/or disabled
Meet the monthly annual household income guidelines (updated 7.1.2020):
- 1 Person - $2,247 or less
  2 People - $3,040 or less
  3 People - $3,833 or less

Please note the following for participation in the program:

Must stay for the entire nutrition presentation.
Only one bag per household.
Can only attend one distribution location.
Must call (209) 525-4670 24-hours in advanced to reserve your bag.

Green Bag Distribution Locations, Dates and Times
All dates, times, and locations are subject to change. Please contact (209)525-4670 prior to attending your first distribution.

Modesto - Stanislaus Veterans Centers
- 3500 Coffee Road, Suite 19, Modesto 95355
- Typically the third Wednesday of the Month at 1:00 p.m.
Modesto - Ralston Tower Senior Housing
- 900 17th Street, Modesto 95354
- Typically the third Wednesday of the Month at 1:15pm
- *Closed to residents only.
Grayson - United Community Center
- 8900 Laird Street, Grayson 95363
- Typically the third Wednesday of the month at 11:15 a.m.
- Program is offered in English and Spanish
Patterson - Hammon Senior Center
- 1033 W. Las Palmas, Patterson 95363
- Typically the third Wednesday of the month
- Time shared with those enrolled.
- Program is offered in English and Spanish
Oakdale - Glady's L. Lemmons Senior Center
- 450 E. A Street, Oakdale 95361
- Typically the third Thursday of the month at 10:15 a.m.
Riverbank - Riverbank Community Center
- 3600 Santa Fe, Riverbank
- Typically the third Thursday of the month at 12:15 p.m.

Leah's Pantry Food Smarts Class

Join Healthy Aging Association’s 5-week
Food Smarts class!

Call our office at (209)525-4670 to find the next available class. The Food Smarts curriculum focuses on assisting adults in making healthy food choices, learning new recipes, exploring the MyPlate food recommendations, and finding ways to save more at the grocery store.

Classes will be held in person at the Stanislaus Veterans Center. *Space is limited*

Source: https://leahspantry.org/programs/food-smarts/