June 15, 2004

By: Debra Beale
Website: http://www.1st-in-fitness.com

National Senior Health & Fitness Day, the nation’s largest health promotion event for older adults

Organized as a public/private good health partnership by the Mature Market Resource Center, Senior Health & Fitness Day will offer fitness activities for older adults at more than 1,500 locations including hospitals, park and recreation departments, senior centers, health clubs, retirement communities, houses of worship, health departments and other community locations. The event is always held on the last Wednesday in May as part of Older Americans Month activities.

This year, programs will range from small group exercise demonstrations in community senior centers to walking tours and health fairs. Most programs include an exercise or physical activity component, as well as educational information about senior health and fitness.

Interested organizations must register to host a National Senior Health & Fitness event. The registration fee is $37.95 plus shipping and includes the official National Senior Health & Fitness Day program manual and sample National Senior Health & Fitness Day incentive items — T-shirt, balloons, etc. The program manual is an easy-to-use guide with all of the information needed to host a successful event — activity suggestions, posters, press releases, copyright-free reproducible masters to hand out, etc.

Older adults at all levels of physical fitness are encouraged to participate in National Senior Health & Fitness Day, says Tina Godin, NSHFD program manager. Our goals for Senior Day are to make exercise fun, to increase awareness of the benefits of a regular exercise programs for older adults, and to encourage all older adults to take advantage of the many health and fitness programs offered in their communities.

Last fall, the Mature Market Resource Center sponsored a slogan contest to select a theme for the 2004 National Senior Health & Fitness Day event. The theme for 2004, Activity A Choice You Can Live With!, was chosen from among thousands of contest entries. Ruth Underhill of East Peoria, Illinois won a $250 prize for her winning entry.

To help older adults stay motivated after National Senior Health & Fitness Day and throughout the year, the Mature Market Resource Center also organizes the Mature Fitness Awards USAsm, the nation’s first fitness recognition program for older adults.

Author Notes:

Debra Beale contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.1st-in-fitness.com.  A source of information and helpful tips on various types of fitness equipment.