Milestone Retirement welcomes advice from football Hall of Famers

What do you picture when you think of a 70-year-old? Probably not someone who works out every day. But why? Why have our brains been wired to assume aging and physical fitness can't go hand-in-hand?

That was one of several questions raised by football greats Joe DeLamielleure, Doug Plank, and Roger Wehrli when they addressed Milestone Retirement employees during their senior leadership conference earlier this year. DeLamielleure, Plank, and Wehrli’s segment, Bye Bye Bingo! Programming for the Boomer Consumer, highlighted an opportunity for senior living providers to offer more active, engaging programs.

DeLamielleure, who has been diagnosed with CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy) due to football-related head trauma, walked Milestone's attendees through his fitness regimen, which includes robust resistance band training, golf, and a variety of outdoor activity. The former Buffalo Bills offensive lineman went on to explain that if he ever makes the move to senior living, he wholeheartedly plans on keeping up his active lifestyle, and added "I'd like my wife to be able to join my workouts."

"Now, more than ever, we have the opportunity to change the way we think of senior living programming," said Ellen Belk, Milestone Retirement's National Director of Community Lifestyle & Memory Support Operations. "There are a lot of athletes, health enthusiasts, and adventure seekers out there who are over the age of 60. So, as senior living providers, we need to ask ourselves 'what are we doing to ensure that we meet the developing needs and expectations of this dynamic generation of seasoned citizens?'"

Hearing DeLamielleure, Plank, and Wehrli (ages 66, 64, and 70 respectively,) share stories of how they stay healthy physically, socially and spiritually was a powerful experience for Milestone’s team.

"What we learned during this spirited panel discussion is that Boomer Consumers are distinctive," added Belk. "They are aging differently from their parents' generation. Their expectations are higher and their voices are stronger; as they advocate for change. Now, we're faced with the opportunity to create an atmosphere that caters to individuals, not groups, and take all of their diverse, unique needs into consideration. We look forward to the opportunity."

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The ICAA welcomes your news submissions. Please send your press releases to colinmilner@icaa.cc-the ICAA's email for submissions-and staff will consider your news for possible publication. Newsworthy topics include such things as center/community openings; initiative or campaign launches; announcements of awards, promotions or grants; and other topics of interest to active-aging professionals.

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