The path to senior health and wellness isn’t always a straight line. It’s ever changing, complete with plenty of bumps, curves, stops, and starts. Even when you feel young at heart, your body doesn’t always cooperate. It can sometimes slow down just when you’re ready to rev up. So when it comes to reaching your rehab and fitness goals as an older adult, there’s power in finding your why.

4 Tips To Find Your Senior Wellness Why

Inspiration. Aspiration. Motivation. Your why is your reason to take action. Your core driver to achieve your senior fitness and wellness goal (or set of goals). It ignites you and fuels your desire to get stronger and live healthier. So how do you find it? And how do you hold on to it? Here are four tips to help you get started on your path to senior health and wellness.

1. Look inward to move forward.
   There’s no one-size-fits-all motivator when it comes to senior fitness and rehab, which means the key to finding your specific why is to dig deep. Think about what matters most to you. Ask yourself some questions: Why do I want to get stronger? Am I missing out on doing things I love because I don’t feel my best? What brings me the most joy in life? Identifying your why can prompt powerful emotions, all of which will help motivate you to take action toward your senior health and fitness goals. Here’s a great exercise to try:

   I want to _______________, so I can _______________.

   For example… I want to get stronger, so I can get back on the golf course. I want to stay active, so I can keep up with my grandkids. I want to get in better shape, so I can stay independent. I want to rehab my hip, so I can rejoin my walking club. I want to feel steady on my feet, so I can enjoy more outings and trips.

2. Write it down, so you can live it up.
   The simple act of writing down your senior fitness goals can help turn thoughts into actions. It can connect you to what you’re truly thinking. Which can help shift how you feel — and how you show up in life. In other words: Pen and paper make powerful tools when it comes to senior fitness and rehab. By writing down your why, you can reach new depths of self-discovery. And once your why is on paper, post it somewhere you can easily read it every day.
3. Find strength in staying the course.
   Working towards your senior wellness why is a journey. Which means it needs to be sustainable. So ask the question: Is your why strong enough to help keep you on the healthy-living track, even when the road gets rough? Because bumps along the way are to be expected. That’s part of life. But when your why is strong, so is your resolve to stay on track.
4. See yourself succeeding.
   Once you know your senior wellness why, it’s time to bring it to life in your mind. Visualize yourself doing what you love, with the people you love most. Picture yourself back on the golf course. Imagine yourself walking the deck on your cruise ship. Envision yourself on a picnic with your grandkids. Surround yourself with images that connect you emotionally to your why. This will help remind you of who you want to be and what you’re working toward.

Remember: You’re chasing a feeling, not a finish line. Have faith in your own strength. Believe in your potential. Get inspired with Senior Fitness 101: Tips for Staying Active as an Older Adult. And start asking yourself: What’s my why?

Find your why with a senior fitness and rehab partner.

Your wellness journey is deeply personal, but you don’t have to go it alone. Ageility is here to support you every step of the way — whether you need specialized rehab services or are looking for senior fitness classes near you. We’re your partner on the path to healthy senior living. And we’ve got your back. Find an Ageility clinic near you to start working towards your why right now.

There’s a lot to look forward to when winter rolls around—hot cocoa by the fire, putting up holiday decorations, reuniting with family…it’s truly a magical time of year. If you’re one of the 50 million people in the US with arthritis, though, the colder weather can take a toll on your joints and keep you from the activities you love because of arthritis pain.

Here’s the good news: Whether you have osteoarthritis or rheumatoid arthritis, there’s lots you can do to manage arthritis pain so you can get right back to building a snowman with the grandkids. One of the best strategies for managing arthritis in the winter is getting personalized treatment from innovative physical therapy providers like Ageility Rehab and Fitness. Just a few lifestyle changes at home, though, can also make a big impact. Here are seven easy and effective remedies that can help soothe arthritis pain and make your winter more active and comfortable.

7 Ways to Reduce Winter Arthritis Pain

1. Bundle up: Cold is a common trigger for aching and swelling joints, so keeping yourself warm by layering up on clothes—particularly pain centers like your hands, knees and legs—is key to raising your body temperature and reducing joint pain.
2. Check your vitamin D: During the winter months, many older adults stay inside. A lack of exposure to sunlight increases the risk of vitamin D deficiency. When you are deficient in vitamin D, it can lead to joint pain and aching muscles. Talk with your primary care physician about the need for a vitamin D screening.
3. Stay active: When it’s cold outside and you are experiencing arthritis pain, the last thing you might want to do is exercise. But one of the best ways to keep joints working is to use them. Consider exercises like tai chi, yoga and swimming, especially if you have access to a heated therapy pool. You’ll benefit from both the heat and the no-impact exercise.
4. Eat smart: Your diet can play a role in managing arthritis symptoms too. Some foods can increase swelling, which can raise pain levels, while other foods can fight inflammation. Cherries, berries, grapes, cabbage, kale, spinach, and plums, combined with omega-3 rich foods like fish and nuts, can help decrease joint swelling. Also, try to avoid processed foods, sugary treats, and fast foods.
5. Get more Vitamin C: There is growing research to indicate that foods high in vitamin C may be linked to an increase in new collagen production. Collagen is a critical component of cartilage, which is often damaged as arthritis worsens. Bell pepper, citrus fruits, cauliflower, cherries, and strawberries may be good additions to your diet.
6. Try heated paraffin dips: Try giving your hands and feet a dip in heated paraffin wax. Salons and spas usually offer this service. If you prefer to do it at home, kits are less than $30. You could also try heated lavender slippers and gloves. These can be warmed up in the microwave and used repeatedly.
7. Drink green tea: The benefits of green tea are numerous—one of which is blocking chemicals in the body that are believed to cause inflammation. Green tea may also prevent cartilage from further damage due to arthritis.

Treating Arthritis: Why Physical Therapy is Key

Following these seven tips may be able to help relieve arthritis symptoms, but if joint pain persists or gets worse, it’s time to start looking for a more tailored treatment plan. Physical therapy addresses your specific aches and pains so you can get back to tossing snowballs at the grandkids without flare-ups slowing you down. Ageility’s team of licensed physical therapists are trained in arthritis pain management and work with you to develop a treatment plan that relieves pain and swelling and restores muscle balance around the affected joints, without the need for medication.

Reduce Arthritis Pain and Reach Your Goals with Ageility

Whether you want to shovel snow ache-free, or wrap presents without sore and swelling joints, working with a physical therapist and making a few changes to your lifestyle can help make winter less painful, and more joyful. To learn more about Ageility’s physical therapy services, contact Ageility at [email protected] for more info or search for an Ageility location near you.

Something was different at the NATO Defense College in Rome, Italy in 1974. Or rather, someone. The change was most apparent during a session where every officer was gathered. When the speaker got up to give his normal greeting, he noticed that this time, for the first time, he’d have to expand it a bit. “Good morning gentlemen…and lady,” he said.

That odd woman out was Jean Neely, a US Navy captain and the first woman officer ever to attend the NATO Defense College. That was just one of many firsts Jean accomplished during her glass ceiling-shattering, 26-year career in the Navy, including being one of the first women selected for major command.

Then in 1976, after years of hard work and dedicated service to her country, Jean Neely was looking forward to a restful retirement. Yet, like many older adults, Jean’s minor aches and pains became more debilitating as she grew older. Eventually she was diagnosed with what she jokingly calls the “triple whammy”—Parkinson’s, osteoporosis and an autoimmune disease called myasthenia gravis. Then came the injuries: five joint replacements, several busted fingers and one shattered vertebra after a fall in her West Virginia home on Easter Sunday 2021.

“My doctor said I could go to the hospital or to rehab in assisted living,” she says, “and I didn’t want to go to the hospital.”

More Than Just Innovative Rehab Therapy: The Ageility Difference

In spring of 2021, Jean made a temporary move to an assisted living apartment in the Somerford House & Place Hagerstown senior living community and began physical therapy at the on-site Ageility Rehab & Fitness clinic. Jean says she had seen dozens of physical therapists over the years, but there was something different about Ageility’s that she noticed immediately.

“They know every one of the residents and interacted with them in a very friendly way,” she wrote in a testimonial about her experience. “I can honestly say that the Ageility group of therapists put any and all others I’ve known ‘in the shade’ with their professionalism and attention to their patients’ needs.”

Since Jean required the whole gamut of innovative therapy—occupational, physical and speech—Ageility’s continuum of care and wide range of specialized rehab and fitness services were key to helping her toward her ultimate goal: moving back home and regaining independence. Each therapist got her one step closer. One helped her enunciate words through the Big and Loud speech therapy that’s part of the LSVT program to the point where she can even say Mary Poppins’ “supercalifragilisIcexpialidocious” without skipping a beat. One of her favorite parts? “Everything was just down the hall. How easy is that?” she says.

Now, with her departure imminent after just five months, she says the whole experience blew away her expectations.

“I just assumed I was going to an institution,” she says, “I never realized that I would make friends and miss people when I left.”

An Extraordinary Recovery from an Extraordinary Veteran

Jean’s five-month recovery is just one in a long line of obstacles she’s overcome over the years. Though her Navy career was one marked by unforgettable experiences like her “absolutely fabulous” two-year stint in Morocco, overt sexism in the ranks (and in the law of the land) prevented her from ever serving aboard a Navy ship. She also saw her male counterparts get promoted at a faster rate, despite the same work. Yet, there was something about Jean that kept her going, in the face of all odds, to become one of only 12 women Navy captains in 1976. Now, there are hundreds.

“I’m just a very persistent person,” says Jean. “Sometimes I have to walk away from things for a while, but they always nag at me until I get them done.”

Starting from the Bottom Rung

That nagging feeling also followed Jean around in her youth in the 1950s when she was searching for a career that would allow her to give back to the country she loved. In those days there was no Peace Corps, no VISTA, so Jean found a program in the Navy that would permit her to take her training during the summers and get her commission upon graduation from college.

Duty to the Stars and Stripes also played a huge role in family when she was growing up. Her father and both her brothers were part of the Greatest Generation who fought in World War II. So, after graduating from Bates College, she began her Navy career in 1953 in Seattle as an ensign.

“Ensign is the lowest form of life, with only one gold stripe on your sleeve,” jokes Jean.

Climbing the Ladder to Captain

It was slow-going, but Jean made an impression. At each Naval station she transferred to, she gained more responsibility as her male superiors learned that she didn’t just keep up with her male counterparts, she surpassed them. In 1956, Jean headed to Washington D.C. where she was promoted to Lieutenant, from there she proceeded to duty stations in Morocco, Maryland and promotion to Lieutenant Commander. In 1964, she headed for the US Navy Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, graduating the next year with a Master of Science. She headed back to Washington where she met and married her husband. Moves to Memphis, Norfolk, and promotion to Captain, followed by Rome and then back to D.C. ensued, where she completed her career.

Jean says she would have loved to serve aboard a ship, but the law did not allow it at the time. She was selected to be the commanding officer of a major command in San Diego in 1974, but instead she opted to retire, so she and her husband could travel.

“The challenges in the Navy were so terrific; I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything,” she says.

A Remarkable Life, Recognized

Jean’s persistence and historic career are finally getting the recognition they deserve, and not just from her Ime in the Navy. After several years of travel, the Neely’s settled in eastern West Virginia, where Jean was able to expand her interests in the natural world. One of her interests was fulfilled when she founded the Potomac Valley Audubon Society, a chapter of the National Audubon Society, in 1982. Last year, the organization named a pavilion after her and declared her birthday, July 10, as Founder’s Day.

“I don’t think I’ve done anything very exceptional,” Jean says. What she has done, through countless challenges from rising through the ranks to recovering from injury, is persist. To Jean and all the veterans who have served over the years, we thank you for your service.

Discover the Ageility Difference and Get Back to the Life You Love

It’s amazing what a spirit of persistence and the help of an exceptional innovative rehab team can do. In just five months of Ageility Rehab & Fitness, Jean was able to regain her independence at age 90 and accomplish her goal of moving back home.

To discover how Ageility can help you reach your goals through a tailored treatment and fitness plan, find an Ageility clinic near you.

Accidents happen. It could be a bad swing at the links, a wrong step during a morning jog or just a slip in the kitchen. Older individuals recovering from surgery, injuries or extended periods of little to no exercise are often more prone to injury or re-injury, particularly fall-related injuries due to struggles with strength and balance.

The words “physical therapy” likely bring up images of a long, painstaking process that’s only helpful for those in recovery. The most effective physical therapy, though, is both reactive and proactive. That’s why Ageility offers not just recovery interventions, but also prevention and fitness training in its clinics.

Prevention helps older adults avoid falls and other catastrophic events, while fitness training helps older adults stay active for as long as possible—even to the point of achieving goals they’ve had all their lives like running a marathon. Not sure if Ageility physical therapy is right for you or your loved one? These answers to five of the most common questions about physical therapy for seniors can help you make the most informed decision.

What does a physical therapist (PT) do?

Though PTs are sometimes confused for personal trainers, they do far more by helping you develop a plan of care to address injury, weakness and other movement impairment. PTs must be state-licensed to practice and most hold advanced degrees, including doctorates. That education allows them to determine the cause of problems and create customized treatment plans based on recovery or prevention. For seniors in the Ageility program, these might include orthopedic rehabilitation, strength training, aquatic therapy or arthritic pain management. No matter the treatment, Ageility’s physical therapists share: optimizing movement so clients can live life to the fullest.

How does physical therapy help seniors?

It doesn’t matter if you’re already in great shape or require rehabilitation after orthopedic surgery, physical therapy can help older adults maintain their independence for as long as possible. That’s because physical therapy is proven to help improve strength, balance, mobility and fitness in adults. A strong physical therapy partner like Ageility provides a full range of physical therapy services including:

• Fall prevention and balance
• Chronic and acute pain management and prevention
• Arthritic pain management
• Strength and flexibility training
• Postsurgical rehabilitation
• Sports medicine
• Continence management
• And more

How many times a week should you do physical therapy?

When a need for physical therapy has been determined, a course of treatment is likely to be 30 to 60 days in duration. However, the ideal type and frequency of physical therapy can vary from person to person. That’s why a personalized physical therapy partner like Ageility will design individualized treatment plans for each client’s unique circumstances, including sports medicine treatments to help them get back to the activities they love.

The frequency of physical therapy also depends on access. Full-service retirement communities with Ageility clinics strongly benefit from being able to help residents get the ongoing care they need on-site. Even if you need to commute to a clinic, Ageility’s community focus means your visit will be just as personalized and easy as if you lived next door.

Is it ever too late to do physical therapy?

Maybe you have an old back injury that’s still causing you trouble or you’d just like to get up and greet visitors without the need for assistance. No matter what’s holding you back physically, there is no better time than now to start physical therapy. There’s no age limit on improving your quality of life, and Ageility’s therapists are trained and eager to help people reach their personal goals regardless of age, ability or athletic history.

What physical activities are good for older adults?

Many of the physical activities you’ve enjoyed over the years have huge benefits for people as they age. There are exercises and activities, though, that are particularly effective for seniors due to their low impact that puts minimal stress on the body. A few that Ageility’s physical therapists love to use in their customized treatment plans include:

• Pilates
• Dumbbell strength training
• Chair yoga
• Resistance band workouts
• Aquatic therapy/water aerobics

How can I find a physical therapist for seniors?

Getting older doesn’t mean you can’t be in the best shape of your life. With regular physical therapy, that hike on your bucket list or goal to continue to live independently is within reach.

Ageility’s licensed therapists are trained and ready to help you get there and make the process as easy and painless as possible. Just wait until you discover what physical therapy can do for you.

To learn more about Ageility’s physical therapy services, contact Ageility at [email protected] for more info or search for an Ageility location near you.

How Getting In the Water Can Help Get You Back On Your Feet

Beverly was ready to return to teaching, but there was one painful obstacle in her way. Well, make that two. After getting both of her knees replaced, Beverly was facing at least three months of slow, stressful rehabilitation and recovery. That was a long time to be away from her students and the job she loves. Good thing there was another, more appealing option: an innovative Ageility aquatic therapy program at The Court at Palm Aire in Pompano Beach, Florida. The benefits of aquatic therapy include a faster and easier recovery. Within two months, Beverly was back on her feet and walking into class with knees that felt stronger than ever.

“Aquatic therapy has been a vital, less painful step in my rehabilitation and recovery,” says Beverly. “Had it not been for the care and exercise that I received from my aquatic therapist, I wouldn’t have been as mobile and able to return to work so quickly.”

Whether you need physical therapy to get you back to work like Beverly, or on the golf course, aquatic (or pool) therapy provides a safe and easy path to a speedy recovery. Aquatic therapy also treats a wide variety of conditions and offers a long list of benefits for patients of all ages and fitness levels. Not sure if aquatic therapy is right for you or your loved one? Here’s what you need to know about aquatic therapy before taking the dip.

What’s the difference between aquatic therapy and traditional physical therapy?

Think about the last time you were floating freely in a pool. It felt almost effortless, right? That’s because the buoyancy provided by the water supports your weight and, in turn, reduces the amount of stress placed on the joints. Now consider the last time you splashed someone. Moving your hand through the water requires more force than through the air because of water’s natural resistance. Yet, it also demands far less strain than the weights you would use in traditional physical therapy. That resistance allows for strengthening muscles with less stress, making aquatic therapy a speedier and less painful recovery option than traditional therapy.

What are the benefits of aquatic therapy?

Nothing relaxes the mind and the body quite like a few hours in the pool. Aquatic therapy, though, offers far more benefits than just that refreshed feeling. Spending time in the water exercising alongside a physical therapist can also help you strengthen muscles, reduce swelling, improve balance and enhance flexibility. Put those together and a couple of months of aquatic therapy sessions can help you regain the strength, endurance, and balance you need to get back to moving normally with less pain.

What conditions does aquatic therapy treat?

In short, just about everything! The therapeutic properties of water alongside skilled aquatic therapy specialists can treat a large number of injuries and ailments, and alleviate many chronic conditions. Here are some of the most common that aquatic therapy can treat:

• Stroke
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Spinal cord injury
• Arthritis
• Lower back pain
• Joint replacement
• And many more!

Why choose Ageility for aquatic therapy?

Everyone going through physical therapy has unique circumstances, aches and pains. That’s why Ageility’s experienced and certified therapists provide customized aquatic therapy based on the particular needs of the person. Onsite, heated pools with adaptive devices also allow greater flexibility and convenience for older adults in assisted living communities and outpatients like Lisa. For over a decade, Lisa says customized aquatic therapy has proved “indispensable” to her recovery as a C3 incomplete quadriplegic. She says her improved mobility from “work in the water” has helped her be more functional and independent than she ever thought possible.

“In short, the more I do in the water, the more I can do on land,” she says. “But more importantly, the more I do in the water, the better I feel overall, both physically and emotionally.”

Physical therapy can be a long and painstaking process, but it doesn’t have to be. Aquatic therapy offers a relatively painless recovery in less time with a whole host of benefits, no matter your condition. If traditional therapy doesn’t appeal to you, aquatic therapy at one of Ageility’s physical therapy locations near you might just be the perfect solution to help you get back to the daily activities you love most. Just don’t forget to dry off first!

Experience aquatic therapy designed for older adults who want to live better

Does Ageility sound like the solution you need – for yourself or your senior living community? Find an Ageility clinic or learn more about Ageility partnerships.