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Fit for Life From page 1
Peggy Mills thought she might be on to something. The visual exercise training system she developed and launched in Dublin in 2017 was already proving to be effective in empowering and building independence for those with disabilities. Why, she wondered, couldn’t it do the same thing for older adults? “The older adult population represents an incredible opportunity to benefit from the same type of interventions to help them be independent,” Mills said of her system, called Valemee (vuh-LEH-mee) and so named to encompass the mission of “value me, empower me.” “Most people do not walk into a gym and already know what to do. We wanted people to be able to walk in, pick out their own workouts based on the muscle group they want to target, and let them have independence.” An adapted physical education teacher with decades of experience, Mills said the idea behind Valemee is to offer a visual exercise format that empowers all users—and specifically those with unique developmental, neurological, and physical needs—to overcome barriers to being fit and independent. When she learned about SourcePoint, the population it serves, and the fitness center available at its Cheshire Road facility, Mills connected with Jonell Arthur, SourcePoint’s wellness manager, about bringing Valemee to Delaware. “Peggy wanted to form a partnership once she understood our population,” said Arthur, pictured above. “We brought this system on site because we do have stroke victims and people with brain injuries and mobility issues who use exercise as a way to regain their independence.” The Valemee system features a board that shows exercises for each muscle group, with cards that visually depict how each exercise is performed. “Users can do self-guided exercises with minimal instruction,” Arthur said. “There are cards that members will grab on a magnetic board; they pick their exercises and return the cards as they finish each exercise.” Mills said the Valemee system teaches different ways to perform various exercises so they can be adapted to different levels of ability. She said someone who has trouble reaching down and getting something off the floor will be shown variations of a squat
Summer 2022 exercise. Learning the various exercises and incorporating them into a workout routine also keep the brain sharp. Another system benefit is being able to adapt a workout to a user’s schedule. “People will go to fitness classes, but what if you have only half an hour for a workout?” Mills said. “You can use this system to get the benefits of exercise in the time you have.” Mills said SourcePoint already had more than enough equipment to introduce the Valemee training system to its fitness center members, with all exercises done with free weights, resistance bands, and sandbells. Arthur has taken a course that will help her acclimate new users of the Valemee system, particularly those with disabilities. “It’s been great to see how committed SourcePoint is to this population,” Mills said. “They genuinely care about doing everything they can to meet their needs.” SourcePoint is the first center for older adults in the area to be using the Valemee system. “The shift in applying this system to older adults is what makes it noteworthy for us,” said Clare Decker, SourcePoint’s administrator of community programs. “One of the things that struck me when we first saw it is the people shown in the pictures look like the people who would be using it here. This is about maintaining independence.” Countless studies and reports over the years have shown that maintaining independence is just one benefit of starting or continuing to exercise as we get older. An article from the National Council on Aging lists several other reasons we should work out regularly, including preventing bone loss, relieving osteoarthritis pain, boosting immunity, preventing chronic disease, and improving your mood. Strength training, Pilates, yoga, and aerobic exercise are among the top choices the article lists for older adults to help improve mobility, build strength, and enhance balance and coordination. Regular users of SourcePoint’s fitness center have their own personal stories of why they stay in shape. “About six years ago, my annual physical showed that I had slightly high cholesterol,” said Richard Brown. “The doctor wanted me to take medication, which I declined. We agreed that I would first try to make some lifestyle changes in diet and exercise. That’s when I started coming to the fitness center at SourcePoint. I continue to take advantage of the great facilities that the fitness center has to offer today, and there are also 740-363-6677 | MySourcePoint.org
