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Press release
ICAA announces Age-Friendly Personal Trainer Checklist
VANCOUVER, B.C. (May 23, 2005) - One and a half million adults over 55 years old chose to work with a personal fitness trainer in 2004, according to just-released statistics from American Sports Data. Why? A personal fitness trainer selects exercises that improve strength, balance and cardiovascular capability or continues a post-rehabilitation program. More important, the personal trainer is a motivator and educator who makes exercise fun and interesting.
Older adults represent a wide range of abilities and needs, from the active golfer seeking a pain-free swing to the house-bound person who needs strength for the activities of daily living. Personal fitness trainers likewise have a wide range of skills and abilities. To work successfully with older adults, experts from the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) say personality is as important as technical skills.
"Many people want to talk while they exercise," commented C. Jessie Jones, Ph.D., co-director of the Center for Successful Aging in California and ICAA advisory board member. Jones recommends looking for a "people person" along with at least two years of personal training experience in addition to academic credentials.
"Does the personal trainer have a sense about how to motivate people to be more active?" asks Marcia Ory, Ph.D., director of Active for Life® National Program Office at the School of Rural Public Health in Texas. "Does the person enjoy working with older people?" Ory, who hired a personal trainer for her 80-year old mother, also looked for knowledge about aging and exercise physiology.
The knowledge base that enables a personal trainer to work successfully with an older adult can be difficult to pinpoint.
To help older adults select a fitness trainer, the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA) has released the "ICAA Age-Friendly Personal Trainer Checklist." It is based on the "ICAA Questions to Ask a Personal Trainer" worksheet that is available for free at www.icaa.cc. The worksheet explains how to evaluate the trainer's answers to questions, and the checklist is a handy format to record those answer. The worksheet and checklist cover the four areas that ICAA recommends older adults look at when interviewing fitness trainers: Experience, Education, Personality and Business Practices.
"We want older adults to be successful when they choose a personal trainer," explained Colin Milner, CEO of ICAA and participant in the National Blueprint on Aging. "More older adults-from the Senior Olympian to the non-exerciser with a hip replacement-are seeking personal trainers. And personal trainers are available in more venues so they are easier to find.
"Adults over 55 are the fastest growing segment of health club members, according to IHRSA, the health club association, and virtually all health clubs offer personal training. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics says that active adults between 50 and 75 years old are driving employment for personal trainers in programs that appeal to active retirees, such as cruise ships, golf clubs and hospital wellness programs. All these places offer personal training.
"We needed a tool to help older adults find the right personal trainer. There are so many certifications and degrees that it is hard for older adults to know what to look for. The Age-Friendly Checklist was designed to look beyond a single piece of paper to qualities that will help older adults be comfortable when selecting a personal trainer."
ICAA Age-Friendly Personal Trainer Checklist
Look for a trainer who has a Yes beside most questions.
EXPERIENCE
- Y N Does the trainer have at least two years of experience as a trainer?
- Y N Does that include experience training clients my age?
- Y N Will the exercise program be based on an individual assessment of my goals, abilities and health status?
- Y N Has the trainer worked with people with my medical conditions? (eg, arthritis, diabetes or back pain)?
- Y N Has the trainer worked before with a physical therapist or a physician?
- Y N Does the trainer know about exercise limitation for the medications I take?
EDUCATION
- Y N Does the trainer have education in exercise sciences and program design?
- Y N Is there specific education in gerontology or the changes that occur as people age?
- Y N Does the trainer have a personal training certification?
- Y N Is there a resource (advisory board, professor, colleagues) the trainer uses to answer questions and generate ideas?
- Y N Does the trainer feel that you should "work through" pain you feel during exercise? (The answer should be "no.")
- Y N Does the trainer recommend a diet or supplement? (The answer should be "no" unless the trainer is also a registered or licensed dietitian.)
PERSONALITY
- Y N The trainer has told me what to expect from the sessions.
- Y N My time commitment, including days exercising on my own, is clear.
- Y N The trainer seems to have a sense of humor and personality that I like.
- Y N The trainer listened carefully to my questions and answered them.
- Y N The clothes, posture and verbal skills are a good match for me.
- Y N I think I can spend several hours a week with this trainer.
BUSINESS PRACTICES
- Y N The trainer can work in my home (if applicable).
- Y N I will receive written invoices and records of my sessions for my family and insurance company.
- Y N The trainer offers other services I'm interested in, e.g., referral to a dietitian or massage therapy.
- Y N The costs of the session are clearly stated.
- Y N There is a cancellation policy I understand.
- Y N The trainer will give me references to past clients.
- Y N If coming to the house, the trainer is insured or bonded.
For more information on how to evaluate a trainer's answers, visit "Questions to Ask a Personal Trainer" at www.icaa.cc.
The ICAA Age-Friendly Personal Trainer Checklist is a companion to the ICAA Age-Friendly Facility Checklist that is available at www.icaa.cc. These resources are part of a complete web-based program for older adults that includes an age-friendly facility locator and questions and answers about exercise.
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About the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA)
The ICAA is the world's largest association dedicated to changing the way we age by uniting and working with professionals in the retirement, assisted living, recreation, fitness, rehabilitation and wellness fields. It connects a community of like-minded professionals who share the goals of changing society's perceptions of aging and improving the quality of life for aging Baby Boomers and older adults within the six dimensions of wellness (emotional, vocational, physical, spiritual, intellectual, social.) The council supports these professionals with education, information, resources and tools, so they can achieve optimal success with this growing market.
For interviews or more information about the ICAA and aging-related issues, contact:
Colin Milner, CEO
International Council on Active Aging
Toll-free: 1-866-335-9777 (North America only)
Telephone: 604-734-4466
Cell: 604-763-4595
Email: colinmilner@icaa.cc
