Knitting? Nope. These Seniors Are Here To Get Fit.

Neomi Delgado knows what people see in their mind's eye when they imagine the average 80-year-old.

“I know exactly what you see. Someone in a wheelchair, someone with a walker, someone [who] can barely move around,” she says. “That's not it. No. You need to come to our class.”

Delgado wants to dissuade both young and old people of any notion that seniors can’t be active. She is the participant instructor for the Seniorcise workout class at the Gus Garcia Recreation Center in Rundberg. Three days a week for an hour, she leads a gym full of seniors through dance moves, weight training and yoga stretches. It’s all to help older adults stay fit physically, mentally and emotionally.

“We know we're not going to do what we could at 20 or 30 or 40,” Delgado says. “But we can do something, maybe a little slower, but we can still continue doing.”

The Gus Garcia Recreation Center is one of several Austin Parks and Recreation sites that offer senior programs. But being the furthest north center within city limits means they see a lot of participants from the surrounding area.

“Our demographic that we see actually does come a lot from Pflugerville from Wells Branch,” says Ally Medina, the recreation program specialist at the Gus Garcia Rec Center focused on senior programming.

“That's why we see such a large influx of numbers here, just because of the location that we're at.”

On average Medina says 45 to 55 people attend the workout class each day. She says many are coming in on doctor’s orders.

“I have seniors that come in … and say, do you have exercise classes? Because my doctor recommended that for me,” Medina says. “The whole focus is to stay active.”

Research shows that physical activity is crucial for older adults. Studies show exercise can help prevent cardiovascular disease, stroke and diabetes, and even delay the onset of dementia, all of which are more likely to impact adults over 65. Staying physically active can also help adults age in place. According to the U.S. Department of Health And Human Services, active seniors have an easier time with daily activities and are less likely to experience falls. If they do, they are also less likely to be injured.

Suzanne Anderson is the CEO of AGE of Central Texas, and is part of the St. David’s Older Adult and Caregiver Panel. She says physical activity for seniors is crucial for longevity, but is often overlooked.

“It is a very difficult topic because number one, people don't really talk about aging,” Anderson says. “We avoid that until we have to caregive or we need resources as an older adult.”

That avoidance is reflected in how people support organizations that offer senior services, Anderson says.

“Only 2% of charitable giving go to those organizations that serve older, adult and family caregivers,” Anderson says. “So we really need to take the time to think about what our aging will look like in the community.”

That community is only expected to grow. Reports from the City of Austin show that people between 65 and 74 were the fastest growing demographic from 2010 to 2020. In response city leaders created a Commission on Aging and crafted the city’s Age-Friendly Action Plan. But a 2022 audit found that the city was falling behind on the plan’s benchmarks. Last year the city manager was directed to ensure departments were aligned with the plan’s goals. But upcoming budget cuts could impact overall services. City leaders are eyeing $17 million in cuts to social services.

Programs like the ones at the Gus Garcia Recreation Center offer much more than just an opportunity to get blood pumping, according to Medina. It’s also a hub for a variety of services, including free groceries through Austin Public Health, a congregate site for Meals On Wheels, as well as hosting special events and field trips.

“That's again a place where they've established community,” Medina says. “It's been proven time and time again that being able to have a community that you can rely on and connect with generally improves your your life.”

Anderson says research backs up the importance of social interaction for older adults.

“If you are if you are lonely and isolated in your home, it is like smoking 15 cigarettes a day,” Anderson says. “So there is a huge decline if you can't get out of the house and be a part of a community.”

Delgado says doctor’s orders might bring people into her workout class, but they stay because of the camaraderie.

“We've been told by a lot of them that they enjoy coming over here because they feel accepted,” Delgado says. “It's very rare you find something senior friendly.”

Delgado says she hopes attendees leave feeling powerful, both physically and emotionally.

“We can do something,” Delgado says. “Maybe a little slower, but we can still continue doing.”