New Minnesota program boosts participation in senior fitness classes
"Getting older can be a process where you feel like you're a hindrance," Cherry said at her "A Matter of Balance" class, which was held at her senior-housing complex north
In the face of a rapidly aging population, a new statewide initiative known as Juniper aims to exponentially boost participation in the classes by taking an obvious but unusual tact: getting doctors and insurance companies involved.
"Part of the problem with our health care system is that for so long patients have treated their doctor as all-knowing," said Dr.
Juniper -- a reference to the evergreen shrub known for its long life and interconnected root structure -- relies on the state's seven Area Agencies on Aging plus the
A three-year,
The idea behind Juniper is to organize and standardize what now is an informal and haphazard smattering of wellness classes, whether at the local
"These programs have been around for decades," said
From the start, participation in Juniper's evidence-based programs exceeded expectations. The original goal was to have 2,000 people enrolled over the first three years. More than 1,700 Minnesotans completed a class in 2015, the inaugural year, according to the
Since then more than 6,500 people have attended programs that run for six to 12 weeks and often include a mixture of discussion and strength-building exercises, such as tai ji quan, a form of tai chi adapted for seniors and others with physical limitations to prevent falls.
This year, 580 classes will be offered under the Juniper umbrella, serving 5,200 people.
"We're just starting to scratch the surface," said
Public health officials have long known that social, economic and behavioral factors are tied to poor health. But with a shortage of geriatricians and financial pressure to avoid preventable hospital readmissions, the medical community is eager find ways to lower costs and improve health.
A fall that causes a significant fracture can cost
"The challenge we have as a community and an aging population is that the intervention for remaining independent is based on such things as preventing injuries, preventing falls -- interventions that are not classic medical acute care," said Dr.
With research showing that patients are 18 percent more likely to attend classes if a physician recommends it,
"The secret sauce is, can you get people to keep doing the program, to keep showing up, doing it at home, and normalizing exercise and balance -- like brushing your teeth," he said. "That's our challenge. It's not like taking a pill. It takes a conscious decision to do your activities differently. We need a partner like Juniper in that."
On the insurance side,
"What's nice about Juniper is it's the main connector of all partner programs," said
"It will help the local organizations continue to do what they're doing and not get bogged down in administrative pieces," she said, "and it leaves room for local community flexibility and uniqueness."
"Health care organizations are getting to know us in a new way," she said. "We're building on what's already out there, and we're building a brand that many kinds of organizations can work under."
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