

Juan Suarez Rivas working out at the University of Miami’s Wellness Center. Rivas said he has exercised his whole life and thinks it saved his life. Juan Suarez Rivas, a 75-year-old Cuban, works out at the University of Miami’s wellness center, where, as an alumnus, he receives a substantial discount. Chester can now lift more than five pounds, and Maria is strong enough to swim again.
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Maria Isabel Garcia, 59, originally from Nicaragua, started exercising with her husband Chester after she was diagnosed with skin cancer and he was diagnosed with a tumor.īecause of their proactive actions and changes in their diet, the couple have become healthier overall. Instead of using Silver Sneakers, some Miami seniors pay for preventative health measures out of their own wallets. “Medicare Advantage programs that do provide Silver Sneakers and other benefits tend to be much more expensive than basic Medicare, and there needs to be more accessibility for some incremental effect to happen,” said Neva Kirk-Sanchez, an associate professor in the Miller School. The Silver Sneakers program does encourage elderly people to exercise, but seniors who are not enrolled in Medicare Advantage don’t have access to the program. “What’s so great about the medicare advantage plans for the elderly is that they are proactive instead of reactive, and that, in the long run, allows seniors to not have to go to the hospital and have to pay for reactive treatment,” said Greg Hartley, president of the Academy of Geriatric Physical Therapy and assistant professor of clinical physical therapy in the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine’s Department of Physical Therapy. The program has helped me physically, mentally and emotionally,” said 73-year-old Luisa Gralv, a participant in the Silver Sneakers Program. “The main benefit is the gyms are free, and that motivated me to go work out. Many senior citizens believe the program contributes to all elements of their wellness. “Exercise assists in keeping bones, muscles and heart strong, and with older people exercising more, complications such as arthritis, diabetes and other medical problems can easily be reduced,” he said. The Silver Sneakers Program helps senior citizens exercise, socialize, and improve their lifestyles.Īlex Guzman said activity can stave off all manner of health problems.Īlex Guzman, inside the gym. Miami has 228 Silver Sneakers partner gyms, almost as many as New York City, which has double the population of senior citizens.
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The Silver Sneakers Program is an initiative created in 1992 to encourage elderly people to exercise by allowing free memberships to partnered gyms through Medicare Advantage plans, a gap insurance policy with a focus on preventative wellness. One contributing factor may be government programs, such as Silver Sneakers, along with other factors, such as culture and climate. But Miami’s obesity rate is significantly lower, with only 15.1 percent of seniors being considered overweight.

Miami has become a city where seniors stay fit and healthy. Nationally, 38.9 percent of people over the age of 65 are obese. “There are currently more seniors in the facility than the youth, and the high number of older people give this LA Fitness significantly more traffic,” said Alex Guzman, a personal trainer at LA Fitness. This is a great place to workout! More.Alex Guzman, outside the LA Fitness where he works as a personal trainer. The cleaning staff is good, but they may not get to this type of thing more than a couple times a day. Non-disabled people think the bench is a soap dish, so it gets slippery, and they tend to splash water around.
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If you are disabled and need to use the accessible facilities, be prepared for other members who do not clean up after themselves and who do not know how to make sure the transfer bench is dry and wiped off. It's very accessible with pool lifts and many accommodations. I happen to be disabled and that was a major reason I chose this gym. Don't go to a matinee and then workout - the place will be closing. If you have to get to work early like me, you won't be able to get much of a morning workout in.And weekend hours are pretty restricted as well. It's about 50% more expensive than the other gyms in town, but they restrict membership numbers.Īlso - the hours are much shorter than other gyms. Amazing staff.A couple things to consider.
