She swims, he takes a Body Pump class– for Maggie and Derek McKay the senior-focused fitness programs offered through Silver&Fit® as part of their Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Medicare plan have positively affected so many areas of their lives.

"We use it just about every day," says Maggie. "I’m a swimmer. I have an exceptionally bad back, I'm lucky to be ambulatory. When I found out how bad it was, they told me I need to start swimming. So, I go to the pool pretty much every day and swim for an hour. My husband loves classes and he goes to all different kind of classes. We’re very active and very grateful."

Fitness programs that are a fit for seniors

Maggie and Derek are just two of the many seniors taking advantage of the free fitness programs offered through their healthcare plan. Some of the benefits in their plan include:

• Membership to a participating local fitness facility
• Access to fitness equipment and group classes
• Information on healthy aging and comprehensive resources
• A home fitness program and more

“We like that we can use it whenever we want and it’s offered with our insurance,” Maggie says. “It’s fun that they offer rewards. They know you’re out there doing a good job so you’re congratulated for taking care of yourself.”

Physical activity important for seniors’ health

The loss of strength and stamina often associated with aging is caused, in part, by reduced physical activity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). By age 75, about one in three men and one in two women engage in no physical activity.

The CDC reports that physical activity in seniors:

• Is associated with social support from family and friends
• Helps reduce the risk of falling and fracturing bones
• Reduces the risk of dying from coronary heart disease and developing high blood pressure, colon cancer and diabetes.
• Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression.
• Helps maintain healthy bones, muscles and joints and helps control swelling and pain associated with arthritis.

Physically and socially fit

For Maggie and Derek McKay, not only does their fitness program help keep them physically and mentally fit, but it encourages them to get out of the house daily and be more social. They now have friends they see daily at classes and at the pool.

“You can never stop taking care of yourself. You may have grandkids, may have children, but you come first. Your physical health and mental well being go together with exercise and are a necessity to live a good quality life,” Maggie says.

“We don’t want to become people who are not able to get around, climb steps or do the things we want to do because we haven’t taken care of ourselves. One of our goals in retirement was to be able to take care of ourselves.”

And, through the easily accessible and fun fitness programs offered through their Blue Cross plan, they can do just that.