April 8, 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 Chestnut Hill Senior Living in Columbus, 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 have found that socialization is the biggest driver for motivating my residents to stay active. Letting them know a specific friend or group will be at the event often prompts those who otherwise tend to keep to their apartments. Even if they do not want to participate in cardio drumming, I ask them to come down and watch, laugh with us, and get to know their neighbors. Once they see how fun the event is, they often can’t help themselves and join in!
Some unique fitness events Chestnut Hill offers besides cardio drumming includes beach ball volley, exercise class, and walking the hallways. With the arrival of spring and fair weather, we are also starting a walking club. Currently, there are two competing groups that are anxious to get started so they can get together at the end of the week and brag about their accomplishments. It will be fun to see how many steps they take in a day’s or weeks’ time.
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.
To celebrate National Walking Week, Assisted Living and Memory Care will be walking together outside (weather permitting) on April 6th @ 3:00 pm. On April 8th, we are having a Meet & Mingle with the staff. Weather permitting, we will take residents in groups outside to walk. We will then return inside for refreshments. We are partnering with EmpowerMe Wellness, our Physical Therapy provider, for pedometers for our residents to use throughout the event and beyond.
At Chestnut Hill, our residents love a little competition, so we plan to create fun fitness challenges where residents can compete for fun while also staying active. We appreciate nature walks as well, so we can get outside and enjoy our community throughout the year.
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!
Sources: https://ava.org/national-walking-week/
Chestnut Hill Senior Living in Columbus, OH offers assisted living and memory care with a variety of services and a range of floor plan options. Newly renovated in 2021. Amenities at Chestnut Hill include restaurant dining, 24-hour bistro, concierge service, housekeeping, events and entertainment, personal care, transportation services, and more. Centrally located just east of Hamilton Road and Morse Road with quick access to Hwy 161, Gahanna, New Albany, and the greater Columbus area.
