EnhanceFitness

Senior Services of Seattle, WA

Purpose:

To provide a low-cost, evidence-based group wellness and exercise program for older adults for them to stay fit and capable of living in the community setting 

Target Population:

Older adults 

Program Goals:

To improve the overall functional fitness and well-being of older adults 

Years in Operation:

 1997 - present 

Results:

EnhanceFitness conducts outcomes testing on all participants throughout the first week of classes and repeats the testing every four months. Tests include:

• Bicep Curl to test upper body strength

• Eight Foot Up and Go to test balance and mobility

• Chair Stand to test lower-body strength

Outcomes testing is compiled and analyzed by Senior Services Project Enhance. Each EnhanceFitness site receives an annual outcomes report that includes baseline data as well. Group Health Cooperative performed a cost analysis of the program in 2000. The analysis found that the average increase in total health costs of participants was $642, compared to that of $1,175 for non-participants. If participants attended one class per week, there was a 6 percent cost savings for participants compared to nonparticipants; if they attended more than one class per week, there was a 21 percent cost savings.

In 2005, 403 EnhanceFitness participants improved in the "Arm Curl," "Up and Go," and "Chair Stand" measurements after four months compared to baseline measurements.

Funding:

Funding for EnhanceFitness is provided in part by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Administration on Aging; Aging and Disability Services of Seattle/King County; Public Health, Seattle/King County, and; the Washington State Aging and Disability Services Administration.

Key Partners:

Group Health Cooperative; University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Health Alert Network; community centers; active adult retirement centers; senior housing; health systems; local parks and recreation departments

What Works and Why:

EnhanceFitness works because of the way the program is designed. The program can accommodate all levels of fitness - Level 1 participants are in seated positions while Level 2 participants are in the standing position. The program includes an instructor and on-site support, and is supported by ongoing research. EnhanceFitness can also be tailored for specific diseases  (e.g., arthritis), and it includes many different forms of exercise. EnhanceFitness has many successful partnerships, which helps with implementation and integration of the program throughout the entire community. 

Structure and Operations:

EnhanceFitness provides an hour of cardiovascular exercise, strength training and stretching. EnhanceFitness classes are proven to increase strength, boost activity levels and elevate mood. Classes are taught by a certified instructor who has special training to work with older adults. Classes usually have 10 to 25 people in attendance on any given day. In a typical class, a participant will experience:

• 5-minute warm-up

• 20-minute aerobic workout

• 5-minute cool-down

• 20-minute strength training workout with soft ankle and wrist weights (0 up to 20 pounds)

• 10-minute stretch

• balance exercises

Costs to implement EnhanceFitness at a new location are about $3,000. Each location must be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible and have enough space for each participant to move around safely. Locations must be able to provide ankle and wrist weight cuffs, music, and performance measure equipment.

Barriers to Success:

One barrier to the success of EnhanceFitness is not having a program champion to develop and implement the program throughout the community. Another barrier is not providing continuous instruction to trainers on how to work with older adults most effectively. The program also must be adapted to the local community to work best.

More Information:

http://www.projectenhance.org/index.html

Download:

Download this program information in PDF format.