Health fair encourages seniors to stay in motion

If you want to age gracefully, you have to shake a leg and build human connections. That was the theme of the Senior Friendship Centers Wellness in Motion Health and Services Fair held on July 28 at the nonprofit’s Sarasota campus.

“Isolation is the malnutrition of aging,” said Jodel Velarde, Senior Friendship Centers marketing manager. “We want to be that connection for (seniors).”

Seated and standing, dozens of seniors took part in an aerobics class during the fair.

“We move all parts of the body from head to toe,” said Mike McManus, aerobics instructor, in between teaching classes. “We weren’t created by God to be couch potatoes.”

McManus has taught fitness since 1989 and also teaches tap dance at the center. His classes improve strength, flexibility and balance, he said. Some of his older students have improved their balance to be able to stand on one leg again, he said.

After his class, the senior center dance floor filled for instructor Daisy Saunders’ fitness dance class. Her uptempo, dynamic instruction got the whole center moving.

Helen McBean, 88, said she comes to the center every Tuesday for the dance class.

More than 50 seniors visited the center during the fair for fitness, dance class, and salsa dance instruction demonstrations and to learn from 20 vendors about the wellness offerings in the area.

Dolly Hiller of the Parkinson Place Center was on hand to let fair visitors know about the 80 free classes her organization offers for people living with Parkinson’s. The programs include boxing, yoga, acupuncture, dance and speech therapy.

The event enabled a lot of connections to be made, said Jennifer Vander May, Shine Program outreach and administrative specialist for the Area Agency of Aging for Southwest Florida.

The organization offers a helpline that aims to connect seniors with the resources they need, whether that’s the nearest senior center or finding assistance with Medicare or locating the right assistance agency for a given question.

Events like the Wellness in Motion fair help raise community awareness of the Senior Friendship Centers’ offerings — and existence.

“People still don’t know where here,” said Alice Penney, a Senior Friendship Centers volunteer. “It’s the best (senior center) I’ve ever seen.” 

Despite the Sarasota campus’ central location, Penney added that she regularly meets people who have lived in the area for years but are surprised to find the center and its wide array of offerings.

“We’re getting 20-30 new people a month,” said Jenny Macias, senior program manager. “And an average of 150-170 people visiting a day.”

The article was updated to state Jenny Macias is senior programs manager.