Active at 80: Working out for elderly may help prevent injury, falls

Jan. 15--When Barry Goldsmith was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, his doctor told him to look into taking Tai Chi classes. The big, wide movements are supposed to keep the balance and coordination the disease attempts to steal for as long as possible.

Goldsmith, a retired Greeley physician, signed up for the class at Aims Community College and started going to the gym.

At 80 years old, Goldsmith had his doubts about how other folks at the gym might treat him. At some other gyms, people weren't always nice about him being there.

He was pleasantly surprised by Aims.

"One fall can really change a life and the comfort of that life. If you're active, you're preventing falls.-- Phoebe Hawley, outreach program manager with Seasons Club at McKee Medical Center in Loveland

The instructor and his fellow classmates don't judge him for his limitations, he said. He fell in love with it.

"I'm older; these kids are all much younger, but we're all equals," Goldsmith said. "I'm always delighted they accept me on an equal basis."

It's important for seniors to stay active, whether to delay or prevent diseases or protect against injury.

When folks enroll at a fitness or dance class at Aims, they have full access to the gym all semester. Goldsmith tries to make it to the gym four or five times per week outside of the Tai Chi class. When it's cold outside, Goldsmith likes to walk on the track. He tries to walk a lap without his walking sticks to strengthen his muscles.

So far, he's been able to keep up in all the classes and it's helped his balance, he said. But Parkinson's won't go away, even with the exercise.

"For now, the ability to exercise and maintain balance is very important," Goldsmith said.

He's always felt strongly about staying active, even when he got older. He used to ski. When his knees couldn't take it anymore, he and his wife, Kathy, took up biking.

Phoebe Hawley is the outreach program manager with Seasons Club at McKee Medical Center in Loveland. It's a health and wellness club for folks 50 and over.

As people get older, it's important to focus on strength building, balance and stretching, Hawley said. Even if people didn't have time to make it to the gym before they retired, it's not too late to be more active.

Getting active doesn't have to be intimidating.

"People often think exercise means you have to be in a gym sweating and wearing special clothes," Hawley said.

But that's not the case. Adding any activity can improve your quality of life, she said. That can mean Tai Chi, yoga or simply parking farther away from your destination.

Some folks on fixed incomes also hesitate to sign up for gym memberships. But some gyms and senior centers are free. Hawley recommends checking the back of your insurance card to see if it says Silver Sneakers. If so, you can take part in some gyms and classes at no cost.

If folks are self-conscious or worried about sticking out, Hawley recommends bringing a friend or attending a class and making new friends.

"It can be a challenge, especially if you've lost a long-time spouse," Hawley said. But she said it's good to try something new and different.

Beyond preventing and delaying disease, staying active helps keep people out of the emergency room, Hawley said. According to the Centers for Disease Control, unintentional falls were the leading cause of hospitalization for almost every age group. That's why working on balance and strength may be even more important to aging folks.

"One fall can really change a life and the comfort of that life," Hawley said. "If you're active, you're preventing falls. If we can do that, we'll be warding off a whole lot of injury."

There's a difference between safety limitations and sheltering yourself, Hawley said. Not everyone can run a marathon at 90, but maybe folks can run a 5K or take one class.

As for Goldsmith, he advises people to find a place they feel comfortable. For him, it's the gym at Aims. He likes that he can talk to other people and compete with himself on his own and in the classes.

"There's no snootiness here," Goldsmith said. "Everyone is just so kind to each other. I feel so at home and comfortable here."

-- Kelly Ragan covers features and health for The Greeley Tribune. Have a tip or a question you want answered? Call (970) 392-4424, email kragan@greeleytribune.com or connect on Twitter or Instagram @kelly_raygun.

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