Roe Tiso-Cuskley, a SilverSneakers instructor, leads an exercise class at the Falls Township Senior Center. Photo by Maryanna Savage Phinn
by Maryanna Savage Phinn
The upbeat sounds of Barry Manilow’s classic, “Copacabana,” filled the exercise room at the Falls Township Senior Center on a recent Monday morning. The class participants and their instructor, Roe Tiso-Cuskley, warmed up before the 45-minute SilverSneakers workout, a popular fitness class offered at Falls Township Senior Center. Approximately 20 to 30 people participate in each class. Men and women are encouraged to sign up.
“What we try to do is keep their heart rate up. We keep moving,” explained Roe, a workout instructor for more than 20 years. “We use weights, elastic bands and exercise balls to incorporate exercise with that equipment. We try to get them to work on basic balance; we work on cardio and we work toward building muscle.”
Exercise equipment is provided or class participants can bring their own equipment. Plus, participants can choose to exercise while standing or sitting, and there are always frequent water breaks between sets.
“I love it!” said Charlotte Woelk, 92, of Fairless Hills, a SilverSneakers participant, after finishing her workout session. “It gets me moving.”
Linda Riegel, 77, of Fairless Hills agreed. “Exercise keeps me moving and gets me out of the house. I meet a lot of good people.”
Members or others interested in the class are eligible to participate through traditional Medicare, through other health insurance, or gym membership plans, or they can pay by class for a nominal $6 fee.
“You don’t have to be a member; you can pay for each class. Or you can show your SilverSneakers membership through your health plan,” noted Roe who also teaches SilverSneakers at the Fairless Hills YMCA.
SilverSneakers is just one of many health and wellness classes, programs, and activities available for active adults at the Falls Township Senior Center.
“Our senior center gives seniors an opportunity to stay healthy, stay fit, and to participate in a community setting,” noted Cecelia Murphy, the senior center’s manager. “We all want to exercise but we don’t necessarily want to do it by ourselves. It gives seniors the opportunity for socialization. Along with the physical activity, they get out into the community and they make friends. It gives people a reason to go out, to have a place to go in a safe setting and come back on their own time. We hope to give them enough opportunities to find something they like to do here,” she added.
Currently, the senior center has a “New Year – New You!” theme focusing on physical fitness, good nutrition and staying focused mentally. Health and wellness professionals and organizations visit the center and offer informative presentations on many topics such as: Benefits of Physical Therapy, Fall Prevention and Maintaining Balance, Nutrition Labels, and Resources and Tips for Caregivers. In March, members can even learn about healthy beverages and how to make a sensational sangria!
An annual highlight at the Falls Township Senior Center is the Health Fair and Wellness Week scheduled for April 7-11. This year, organizations such as Partners in Health, Jefferson Health, Giant Pharmacy, BrightStar Care, NovaCare, Fox Rehabilitation and Capital Health will offer special presentations, breakout sessions and opportunities for discussion on topics related to cancer, medication management and pharmacy options, immunizations, audiology screenings, breathing techniques, and much more.
The weeklong event culminates with more than 40 information tables representing many community and health care groups or regional healthcare organizations. There are door prizes and chances to enter to win a special raffle basket for members who actively participate in different programs or attend activities throughout the week.
“We have a very fun, active and engaging center. We make everyone feel welcome. We have a myriad of things to do,” Cecelia noted the Center’s regular activities range from jewelry-making classes to card games, daily lunches, bus trips, bingo, line dancing, billiards, chair yoga, Tai Chi, Zumba Gold, book club and access to the library, shuffleboard, a thrift shop, and lots more.
The center also has approximately 130 volunteers that provide home-delivered meals or participate in various community outreach initiatives such as making memory books for hospice patients, knitting hats for premature infants, or making holiday cards for people living in assisted living or nursing homes.
The Falls Township Senior Center has approximately 1,000 members. “We have more members now than we ever had before. We provide a safe place to socialize and stay physically and emotionally active,” she added.
For more information or to become a member of the Falls Township Senior Center visit fallstwpseniorcenter.org or call 215-547-6563.
To learn more about SilverSneakers, visit tools.silversneakers.com.