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Press release
ICAA and the SilverSneakers® fitness program partner to promote fitness for older adults
VANCOUVER, BC (July 8, 2005)-The International Council on Active Aging® (ICAA), the world's largest trade association for the senior fitness and wellness industry, and the SilverSneakers® Fitness Program, the leading fitness program in the United States designed exclusively for older adults, are joining forces to advance fitness for the mature population. Effective immediately, SilverSneakers, the signature offering of Arizona-based HealthCare Dimensions (HCD), will become the ICAA's official Group Exercise Partner. Under this new partnership, the ICAA and HCD will promote active living for older adults to ICAA members through the SilverSneakers Fitness Program.
With the number of older Americans expected to more than double to 70 million by 2030, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the importance of healthy, active lifestyles in this population has increased. "People who are physically active, eat a healthy diet, do not use tobacco, and practice other healthy behaviors reduce their risk for chronic diseases and have half the rate of disability of those who do not," states the CDC. Both chronic diseases (such as heart disease, cancer and arthritis) and disability place a heavy health and economic burden on individuals and society. By engaging in regular physical activity, older Americans can prevent, delay or manage these health issues. The State of Aging and Health in America, 2004, published by the CDC and Merck Institute of Aging and Health, notes that increasing physical activity "could reduce direct medical costs by $77 billion annually (in 2000 dollars)." That's because "inactive adults have significantly higher direct medical costs than active adults," the report explains, "and the costs associated with physical inactivity increase with age."
The partnership between the ICAA and the SilverSneakers® Fitness Program aims to help more older adults become physically active. The award-winning SilverSneakers program encourages Medicare-eligible individuals to increase their levels of physical activity and motivates them to stay active. HCD works with Medicare Advantage health plans and Medicare Supplement carriers to offer the physical activity, lifestyle and socially oriented benefit program to older adults in selected fitness centers and class sites across the United States.
SilverSneakers includes a free basic membership to a network fitness center, with access to all amenities and the program's signature group exercise class. Members also enjoy social events, as well as health seminars and workshops. Additionally, SilverSneakers' unique national reciprocity program allows members to use any participating fitness center across the nation.
"We are very excited about this new partnership with the ICAA," says Mary Swanson, founder, president and chief executive officer of HealthCare Dimensions. "Our SilverSneakers program is a natural fit with the ICAA's mission to change society's perceptions of aging while improving the quality of life for the older population. SilverSneakers' innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programming allows older adults to take greater control of their health, and this new venture with the ICAA will allow us to further promote those ideals."
"We are delighted to announce SilverSneakers' involvement with the ICAA as Group Exercise Partner," says Colin Milner, the ICAA's founder and chief executive officer. "This program's innovative approach, extensive experience and demonstrated success with group fitness programming for older adults make them an exciting choice as ICAA Group Exercise Partner," he continues. "ICAA members will benefit from this partnership by having new opportunities to promote physical activity to older adults in their communities. This will advance our shared goal of Changing the Way We Age®."
About the SilverSneakers® Fitness Program
The SilverSneakers® Fitness Program is the nation's leading fitness program designed exclusively for older adults. The award-winning program is the signature offering of HealthCare Dimensions (HCD), a Tempe, Arizona-based organization that promotes health through unique physical activity programs and venues. HCD serves as the cornerstone of AXIA Health Management's suite of products that strive to improve the health of individuals in specific population segments. AXIA provides comprehensive, integrated health management programs that prevent or delay the effects of disease or injury. HCD works with Medicare Advantage health plans and Medicare Supplement carriers to offer SilverSneakers to older adults in nearly 1,100 contracted fitness centers and class sites across the United States. Today, nearly 1.8 million Medicare beneficiaries in 31 states are eligible for the program. For more information about the SilverSneakers® Fitness Program, please call 1-800-295-4993.
About the International Council on Active Aging®
The International Council on Active Aging® (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 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. The council supports these professionals with education, information, resources and tools, so they can achieve optimal success with this growing market.
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For interviews or more information about the ICAA or aging-related issues, contact:
Colin Milner, CEO, International Council on Active Aging
Toll-free: 866-335-9777 (in North America); tel: 604-734-4466; cell: 604-763-4595
colinmilner@icaa.cc
