5. WHILE THE FOCUS INCREASINGLY IS ON CHILDREN, PEOPLE OF ALL AGES ARE BEING SERVED.

Experts agree that healthy lifestyle habits learned at a young age are far more likely to be sustained long term. But even senior citizens gain significant benefits from making healthy eating choices and staying active, from warding off disease to guarding against broken bones. ACFN found exceptional programs that are helping seniors do just that, not to mention providing them with healthy lifestyle skills that they can impart on the younger generations of their families.


The population of senior citizens in our nation is growing, and they have significant health needs. Our goal was to focus on prevention, to help them live longer, healthier and happier lives” - Karen Baker, Alburquerque’s Senior Sports and Fitness Program

The city of Albuquerque, NM’s Senior Sports and Fitness program offers senior citizens physical education and recreation activities including cross-country and downhill skiing, adapted aquatics, stability ball classes and a senior Olympics with 26 separate competitions, all coupled with nutrition education. According to program manager Karen Baker, “The program provides anything fun and effective to get our senior citizens moving.” Senior Sports and Fitness serves more than 14,000 senior citizens in the Albuquerque area, and the number of participants increases annually. “The population of senior citizens in our nation is growing, and they have significant health needs. Our goal was to focus on prevention, to help them live longer, healthier, happier lives,” said Baker.

By its name, it would seem that the Arkansas Senior Olympics are all about sports. But according to program leader Gail Ezelle, it is really about togetherness for their participants. Olympians can choose from 78 events, including team sports such as basketball and softball; individual sports such as tennis, golf, table tennis and cycling; and favored activities such as shuffle board and bowling. Participants also have access to dinners and snack bars with nutritious ingredients, communicating the importance of eating healthy for longevity. “Our participants come together to share an exciting experience and celebrate the wonders that the human body can achieve well into the golden years,” said Ezelle.

“The program provides anything fun and effective to get our senior citizens moving.”

?Karen Baker, program manager, Senior Sports and Fitness, Albuquerque, NM

While the ripple effect of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita affected 2005 participation, the event historically has attracted between 500 and 1,000 participants annually.

In Austin, TX, Texercize is a great example of partnerships among organizations in a community forged to arm senior citizens with information to make better choices. The program partners with organizations such as BlueCross BlueShield of Texas, a local aerobics center, running retailer RunTex and the Texas Department of State Health Services. Texercise provides seniors with a handbook on incorporating nutritious eating and movement into daily life, then, with its partner organizations, builds community events around activity. “By leveraging resources of other organizations committed to helping our senior population, our program has been able to make an impact,” said program leader Ken Bomar.