Simply Fit Senior

Promote the Health and Well-Being of Older Adults Through a Holistic and Integrative Approach

According to the United States Census Bureau, older adults will outnumber children for the first time in U.S. history by 2035; and by 2060, one in four Americans will be aged 65 years and older. As a result, the need for health, wellness, and fitness programs designed to help aging individuals preserve their functional independence and extend their lifespan has become paramount.

In this course created in partnership with Healthy Learning, you will focus on the health challenges faced by today’s highly diverse population of aging clients that impact the design and implementation of health promotion and disease prevention programs, such as neurocognitive impairment, fall risk and prevention, pharmacologic interventions, substance abuse, age-related hormonal shifts, social isolation, age-specific nutritional requirements, and health disparities related to race, ethnicity, sexual orientation and gender identity.

Based on the research series “ACE Health and Wellness Reports,” this practical course will also outline the role that physical activity plays in delaying age-related declines in functional ability as well as in the prevention and management of chronic health conditions common to older adults, such as osteoporosis, arthritis, depression, and cardiovascular disease and its risk factors. Ultimately, you will learn how to plan, prepare, implement and make modifications to older clients’ exercise and wellness programs to meet their individual needs and goals so that they can achieve vibrancy, vitality, and vigor in their golden years.  

This course includes digital access to a 96-page online document (viewable only) and an online quiz.

View Table of Contents >

Upon completion, you will be able to:

• Explain the difference between the effects of the natural aging process and the consequences of physical inactivity on the physiological systems that impact the older adult’s functional independence.
• Identify the risk factors for cardiovascular disease and other chronic health conditions and how age can affect the approach to their prevention, treatment, and management.
• Design safe and effective multicomponent exercise programs that promote successful aging
• Understand how the older adult’s sexual, social, and mental health can significantly impact their overall well-being and the aging process, and the role that exercise can play in promoting these aspects of health.
• Understand how exercise can be used as an adjunct therapy for older adults affected by depression, substance abuse, and HIV/AIDS