As baby boomers approach senior citizenship and nonagenarians constitute the fastest-growing age group around the world, attitudes toward aging have taken an about-face for the better. The twilight years don’t have to mean ill health and a lack of mobility but, rather, an opportunity to spend time staying or becoming fit, and building strength and conditioning to enjoy quality of life.
At the Somerset Hills YMCA, many of our members are active older adults who regularly exercise as a tonic for aging. Some of them are veterans of past wars, some of them scholarship athletes, others simply young at heart looking for activity and companionship. Indeed, we even have a handful of nonagenarians who have earned a ‘Lifetime Membership’!
Dr. Miriam Nelson, director of the John Hancock Center for Physical and Nutrition at Tufts University in Boston, observed in The Journal on Active Aging that ”with every increasing decade, exercise becomes more important in terms of quality of life, independence and having a full life.”
The Somerset Hills YMCA offers a fantastic range of activities for Older Adults to suit all levels and tastes with aquatic offerings, wellness programs, Kinesis, and social activities including Pot Luck lunches, lectures and book discussions. All of these programs are free to members and available to non-members for $30 p/month. For more information, visit www.somersethillsymca.orgor contact Laurie Reynolds, Senior Outreach Coordinator at (908) 766 7898 ext. 1341 or
Two of our lifetime members, Craig Burkholder (left) and Jerry Sevick (right)
enjoy a special lunch and visit with Somerset Hills YMCA's CEO Bob Lomauro.
Across the United States, more than 1.5 million people age 55+ are members of YMCA’s. They participate in social, recreational, physical, therapeutic and family-oriented activities that build their spirit, mind and body.
Participation in Y health, fitness, social and educational programs offer opportunities for friendship and community, a sense of well-being, self-confidence, and improved mental abilities and cognition – not to mention the obvious benefits of healthy hearts, lungs, bones and muscles.
YMCA staff encourages active older adults in an array of programs including health and fitness, aquatics, sports, volunteer and social clubs, and mentoring. With the aging baby-boomer population, YMCA’s continually strive to increase programming for this active segment of YMCA membership.
Active Older Adult programs at the Somerset Hills YMCA Mt Airy Road and Riverwalk facilities include strength training, injury rehabilitation, walking, personal fitness, exercise for beginners, yoga, tai chi, weight management, nutrition, and group exercise including aerobics, step, studio cycling, water classes and arthritis specific classes.
Participants enjoy the social contact, companionship and sharing with people their own age. They enjoy the physical workouts and exercising. Some folks swim, some walk, bike or lift weights. Kinesis for seniors is a popular variation on exercise. Keeping up with this program helps them keep up with other activities of daily life.
The Active Older Adults Program at the Somerset Hills YMCA meets in the Gagnon Teen & Community Center on the lower level of the Mt. Airy Road facility each Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 to 2:30. Join us for Wellness Activities, Social Hour, and Afternoon Programs. Because many in this group are very active in their daily routines and with grandparenting, they appreciate the drop in nature of this program.
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