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Exercise Promoted in Nursing Homes
By Karen Farkas, New Orleans Times-Picayune
March 9, 2008
None of the two dozen men and women sitting in wheelchairs or perched on chairs with their walkers next to them volunteered to stand and try a few mini-squats while holding onto a chair back.
That did not deter Linda Thurston, who is mounting an effort to improve the fitness of residents in nursing homes and assisted-living centers.
She soon had nearly everyone in the dining room of the Athenian Village senior community in North Royalton doing foot circles, toe taps, hip flexes, leg lifts and shoulder squeezes.
"Isn't this something you could do every day?" she asked. "Find ways to challenge yourselves. Do more!"
Studies show that exercise helps people build muscle and improve balance and posture. It also improves arthritis and other conditions and promotes healing of wounds.
But assisted-living centers and nursing homes are not required to provide exercise.
Physical fitness for many residents consists of mimicking action on videos, said Thurston, a certified fitness instructor.
Thurston, of Twinsburg, Ohio, formed the Senior Fitness Movement, which includes a Web site, classes for residents and activity directors, and information on exercise. She also wants Ohio to change its administrative code to require exercise in the centers.
The Ohio Administrative Code sets rules for nursing and residential-care homes. The rules say an activity program should meet the physical needs of residents, but don't specify how.
Thurston sent e-mails to all state legislators. State Sen. Dale Miller, D-Cleveland, said he'd like to help.
"I agree that exercise is very important and would certainly be interested in creating a more specific standard that gives more support for physical exercise," he said.
"I don't know whether it is something we can ask the administration to look at or if it would require legislation."
Most state regulations do not specifically address exercise, but many centers have excellent exercise programs, said Catherine Selman, director of the Quality of Life Alliance in Mississippi, which promotes innovations in aging services. But few states require that activity directors be certified in recreation and have training and continuing education, she said in an e-mail.
Thurston does not blame activity directors. She realizes they may not be trained to lead exercises and can be overwhelmed with organizing and providing activities to all residents.
But she said centers could easily afford hand weights and resistance bands and could raise money for exercise equipment.
She began her quest last year after working as an activity director at several centers in Ohio's Summit County.
Bonnie Clark, activity director at Athenian Village, wants to improve its exercise program, which includes following video instruction and doesn't require residents to get out of their chairs.
On a recent morning, Thurston discussed balance and posture and told residents they needed to focus on what they could do.
"Not every exercise is for everyone," she said.
She asked how many had fallen. About half raised their hands.
"Falling is not a normal part of aging," she said. "You can increase or improve your balance at any age."
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