Life for some in Novi defies the ‘status quo’
By Laura Hipshire
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE
Life as an older adult living in a condo or house may sound like an ideal situation, but is it, really? For many seniors in Michigan, inactivity and isolation are becoming the norm.
What is it, exactly, that these stay-at-home older adults are doing every day? Not a whole lot, according to a study done by the Michigan Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness, Health, and Sports.
According to the report: “Although there is clear scientific evidence that regular physical activity has powerful positive effects on both psychological and physical wellbeing, 57% of Michigan senior citizens are classified as sedentary.
“The cost to our state of this physical inactivity is exorbitant. It results in approximately 8,750 premature Michigan deaths from chronic disease per year. It contributes to the escalating cost of health care expenditures for the elderly, which exceeded $9.76 billion in 1993.”
Community members keep busy
At Fox Run, there are lots of ways for community members to get active, and be the exception, not the rule, to this alarming study. Take Lynda Park-Nielsen, who moved to the campus with her husband, Torklid, from Farmington Hills. Lynda, a former music teacher, decided to get active again in music when she came to Fox Run. “I’m a member of the ‘Foxy Grandmas,’” says Lynda. “I have been doing some arrangements of music. I really had never done that before.”
“I take water aerobics here once a week,” says Torklid. “Tony Logan (personal trainer) is phenomenal.” Torklid is also playing billiards for the first time in his life. “I also play table tennis twice a week.”