The Gateway Family YMCA Celebrates Senior Health & Fitness Day

The Gateway Family YMCA will join an estimated 1,000 local groups nationwide to celebrate the 30th Annual National Senior Health & Fitness Day (NSHFD) on Wednesday, May 31, 2023. The YMCA is offering a Community Open House with events like Swimming, Group Exercise, Water Exercise, Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring, Health Screenings and Information at Y branches in Elizabeth, Rahway and Union. For details on individual Y branch events and times, visit www.tgfymca.org/events.

“Older adults at all levels of physical fitness are encouraged to participate in National Senior Health & Fitness Day,” says Patricia Henze, National Senior Health & Fitness Day program manager. “Our event goals are to increase awareness of the benefits of regular exercise, and to encourage all older adults to take advantage of the many health and fitness activities offered in their communities, as well as online.”

According to Melynda A. Disla, President/CEO, The Gateway Family YMCA, “National Senior Health & Fitness Day is the perfect opportunity for seniors to make, renew, and revitalize their commitment to lead healthier lives through wellness, nutrition and programs designed specifically to meet their needs. This is even more important today while individuals may not be as active as they were in the past, have remained isolated or experience loneliness as a result of the past few years.”

During National Senior Health and Fitness Day, participants will join with an estimated 100,000 older adults across the country participating in local events to help promote active, healthy lifestyles through physical activity, good nutrition and preventative care. The Gateway Family YMCA, Shaping Elizabeth and Shaping Union County will be hosting this year’s event, along with local community partners to participate in a YMCA Community Health Fair with vaccination, health and wellness information.

In addition, throughout the day on May 31st, the community is invited to visit The Gateway Family YMCA’s Facebook page for helpful resources, information and updates and discussions at www.facebook.com/GatewayFamilyYMCA

May is also Older Adults month, and The Gateway Family YMCA is offering Weekly Virtual Seminars for the community. Susan Butler, Director of WISE Community Services is presenting each week, with registration and information available at www.tgfymca.org/events

The Gateway Family YMCA provides chronic disease self-management programs free to the local community in English and Spanish. Interested participants can also register for the Blood Pressure Self-Monitoring Program (BPSM), Group Lifestyle Balance Diabetes Program, Diabetes Management Program or LiveSTRONG at the YMCA at www.tgfymca.org or contact 908-349-9622 or bpsm@tgfymca.org for additional information.

The Gateway Family YMCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, health and community service organization of caring staff and volunteers dedicated to strengthening the foundations of community and stands For Youth Development, For Healthy Living and For Social Responsibility. The Gateway Family YMCA impacts the community by providing quality services to people of all ages, races, faith or incomes.

Shaping Eastern Union County is committed to improving the health and well-being of county residents and creating strategies to support improved health, nutrition and physical activity for all. Shaping Elizabeth, Shaping Rahway and Shaping Union are also sponsoring this event.

National Senior Health & Fitness Day is the largest event of its kind, organized by the Mature Market Resource Center, a national clearinghouse for professionals who work with older adults.

For more information about National Senior Health & Fitness Day, visit fitnessday.com.

For more information on National Senior Health and Fitness Day at The Gateway Family YMCA visit www.tgfymca.org or contact The Gateway Family YMCA at 908-349-9622 or bpsm@tgfymca.org