Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)This book is written for fitness professionals who work with older adults. This second edition is a much updated version over the previous one. This edition contains the following new elements:
- A complete chapter on the psychosocial components of aging and wellness
- Introduction of the whole-person wellness concept and strategies to integrate the six dimensions of wellness into programming
- Strength and power training protocols and specific programming
- Material on the unique challenges and opportunities in senior living environments plus programming approaches for this venue
I like this book for a number of reasons. But first and foremost it recognizes that older people are each at different levels of fitness and needs regarding their fitness planning.
Moreover, the book is designed to help the professional develop plans that fit the person and help him or her to function in his unique lifestyle.
Exercise gives older people so much --- just as it does young people. But older people perhaps get more emotional benefit from it because all too often they're lonely and depressed. Part of that is because everyday functioning is limited and painful in many cases.
The book tells us about Ida Weiss, age 91. She ". . . participated in the Fiatarone strength training study through Tufts University in Boston while residing at the Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for the Aged. Subjects aged 72 to 98 participated in a 10-week strength training program that used progressive resistance. Strength increased an average of 113%. Gait velocity and stair-climbing ability also increased significantly (Fiatarone, 1994). In a television interview about strength training, Ida stated, 'I didn't think I was going to live any more, but now I feel different.'"
This pretty much sums up what exercise can do and does do for the senior citizen.
The book discusses levels of function and needs. This is critical in dealing with seniors. There are five distinct levels of function according to the author: physically dependent, physically frail, physically independent, physically fit, and physically elite.
She writes, "I have identified priority needs for each group and suggested movement choices. Although aerobic conditioning is very beneficial, it is not the highest priority for those within the first two levels of function, who struggle to perform the most basic activities of daily living."
This book really gets to the heart of helping older adults deal with their lives and the programs enable them to function well. It is very empowering. The fitness professional can be so instrumental in helping these folks have a much greater quality of life.
Of course the book shows many exercises and describes how to help the client perform them safely --- keeping a close eye on the heart rate --- how different clients will have different needs regarding their heart rate zone and the intensity you ask them to work at.
This is a great resource and I highly recommend it.
- Susanna K. Hutcheson
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