Over the last two decades, Not For Profit Uniting NSW.ACT has helped more than 15,000 people aged 60 and over across Sydney, regional NSW and the ACT to improve their overall health and wellbeing, which in turn helps them to age well by remaining independent and mobile for as long as possible.
Uniting currently has more than 2,000 clients across its nine gyms. This also includes clients visited by Uniting’s exercise physiologists in their homes, aged care facilities and even virtually thanks to the wonders of technology. A 10th gym will soon open in Leichhardt, 5km west of Sydney’s CBD.
The seniors’ gyms are now so popular that they have a wait list of 654 people.
Elly Williams, Uniting Service Manager Seniors Gym, said Uniting was one of the first organisations to provide a hybrid allied health and gym model for seniors in a bid to get them moving and improving their quality of life.
“While joining a gym can be intimidating at any age and especially daunting for older people, getting involved in structured exercise later in life has numerous benefits,” Elly said.
“Physical activity is one of the most important things you can do for your health and is a protective factor for diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes and some types of cancer. It can not only keep you healthy for longer, but it can maintain your balance to reduce risk of serious falls and therefore help maintain independence.”
More than 90 seniors, who’ve all racked up at least 10 years slogging it out at one of Uniting’s nine seniors’ gyms, marked the milestone with staff at Audrey Hawkins Community Centre, the home of Uniting’s first dedicated gym for seniors, in Lilyfield, 6km west of Sydney’s CBD.
A great celebration for a great initiative.