The Renown

A 55+ Club Aging Well

While hospitals across the nation have adapted to meet changing demands during the pandemic, Renown Health has stepped up in a unique way – growing a fun, free club for anyone 55 and older. Renown Health’s Sterling Silver Club was created to help seniors live healthy, happy lives every day. With exclusive benefits all designed with member interests in mind, the club is a welcoming place for people to shine and embrace the joys of healthy aging.

We recently checked in with the Sterling Silver Club to see what they’ve been up to since launching the program in 2019 – and they’ve been up to a lot!

In under two years, the many social opportunities, entertainment events, special discounts, and presentations with health insights and tips from Renown and community experts helped the club thrive and grow to 8,000 members. How did the club manage to do so well, even during the time of COVID? It found a new “virtual” space to meet.

Adapting to a Pandemic to Keep Members Connected

When lockdowns began last March due to the virus, club organizers picked up the phone and sent out surveys to ask bers,” said Tori DellaRocca, who oversees the club for Renown. “What I’ve learned is that personal connections matter most. (55+ Club page 26)

members how they were doing and to find out how the Sterling Silver Club could be most helpful to them during the pandemic. Based on the valuable feedback they received, the club launched weekly activities and special events virtually, both online and by phone. This not only provided a remote, safe and genuine connection for members, it also allowed them to discover ways to improve their wellness and self-care while at home.

“Our members have enjoyed the opportunity to learn from experts in the field of healthy aging as well as connect with their fellow community mem-

• Tuesdays and Thursdays: It Starts with Hello – in collaboration with the HELLO Project, these 45-minute virtual gatherings feature discussions on a variety of topics, and special guests.

• Wednesdays: Mindfulness Meditation – in the comfort of their homes, members who attend this virtual class discover stillness and learn how to use meditation as a powerful tool to benefit the body, mind, and spirit.

55+ Club / from page 25 It’s not about the place where the events are hosted, it’s about the people. The Sterling Silver Club’s virtual events, combined with our phone outreach, have helped our members and our team feel less isolated. We also have a private Facebook group where we connect and get to know each other.”

Weekly Club Activities – at Home

The Sterling Silver Club works with different partners to provide an ongoing schedule of weekly virtual activities based on member suggestions and interests. By computer, tablet, smartphone or home phone, members can join events like the ones listed below, remotely: • Mondays: Heart to Heart Yoga – an hour-long virtual session • Fridays: Group Fitness – all members of all levels are welcome to attend these group events, which have ranged from virtual walking tours to fitness video presentations during the pandemic. The club hopes to return to live fitness events when it is safe to do so.

Club Special Events

The Sterling Silver Club also hosts a monthly Silver Plate Cooking Class with Renown’s Healthy Heart Program dietitian, Caitlin Bus. This event allows members to cook healthy meals together and learn ways to modify recipes for optimal nutrition. So far members have cooked potato soup, a sheet pan salmon, side dishes and healthy desserts – all while learning the importance of healthy eating.

And on March 24, PBS Reno is hosting an exclusive event of “Wild Nevada Revisited” for Sterling Silver Club members. This exciting event will give members the chance to meet the show’s hosts, who will be presenting a behind-the-scenes “sneak-peak” of the new season. Afterward, a Q&A will give members the opportunity to discover even more about Nevada’s wild history.

The Past and Future of the Club

One year ago, club members were regularly attending in-person events that catered to their interests. Most notably, a 1920’s-themed gala that featured live entertainment and dancing at a local casino where more than 300 members were dressed to impress. That gala was just a week before the shutdown began.

Today, the Sterling Silver Club is looking forward to their members and the entire community being able to get the COVID-19 vaccine, and hopes to return to in-person events once restrictions are lifted.

Though the last year presented many challenges, it also strengthened our natural desire to stay connected to one another. And the Sterling Silver Club and its members are shining proof of how powerful that connection can be.

For more information on upcoming events or to sign up for Renown’s Sterling Silver Club, please visit renown.org/SterlingSilver or call 775-982-7787.