News Taffy

One of the benefits of retiring is having more time to devote to things you enjoy such as family, hobbies and travel. In order to more fully enjoy your retirement, make exercise an important part of your daily activities. A good exercise plan will keep you stronger, less prone to falls, more mentally alert and help improve your mood.

An excellent place to start is with the SilverSneakers program for senior adults offered by many health plans around the U.S. To participate in a SilverSneakers program, you must be eligible for Medicare or be a group retiree. You do pay for the insurance supplement plan but the SilverSneakers program includes free membership to a fitness center at any participating gym across the country, access to exercise classes, equipment, pools and saunas. There are customized SilverSneakers classes for older adults to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. Occasional health education classes are offered as well. Members have access to online support to help lose weight, stop smoking or reduce stress.

In Arkansas, the following health plans include the SilverSneakers program: Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield Medipak Choice, AARP Medicare Complete, AARP Medicare Supplement, Amerigroup Coventry Health Group, Humana and Windsor Health Plan.

The gyms which provide the SilverSneakers program in Jonesboro are Curves, Saint Bernard's Health and Wellness Center, the Trim Gym and NEA Baptist Wellness Center.

Check with your insurance provider to find out if SilverSneakers is offered through your plan. If it is, all you need to do is go to a gym that has a SilverSneakers program and ask to enroll. Take your SilverSneakers ID card or your health plan ID card so gym employees can access your information. They will give you a tour of the facility and explain the classes offered. If you have recently retired, it may take a few days before your name is in the system but you can call the number provided in your insurance packet to check if you are enrolled yet. You can also use any gym around the country which has a SilverSneakers program when you travel. So if you are visiting the grandkids in another state, you can still keep up your exercise program.

If there isn’t a participating SilverSneakers program near you, you can take advantage of the SilverSneakers Steps fitness program where you will receive a kit with an exercise DVD, resistance bands and more. The online resource provides nutrition and health improvement plans, video demonstrations, health related articles and a tracker for your health and exercise progress.

A friend of mine recently retired and has already signed up for classes. She reported that it is a great way to meet new people and to socialize with your peers while getting a good workout. So get started on the road to better health today!