Silver Sneakers program offers gym memberships to seniors

By Molly Roberts
Posted 4/13/22

Silver Sneakers is a program run mostly through Medicare and Medicaid and some private insurances that will provide free YMCA memberships to people 65 and older, in order to help them live healthier …

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Silver Sneakers program offers gym memberships to seniors

Posted

Silver Sneakers is a program run mostly through Medicare and Medicaid and some private insurances that will provide free YMCA memberships to people 65 and older, in order to help them live healthier lives with exercise.

The best way to see if you’re eligible for Silver Sneakers is to call the customer service number on the back of your insurance card, said Ann Leary, Membership Director at the Kalona YMCA.

Then, the YMCA will have the senior fill out a membership application and waivers, take a copy of their ID and ensure they’re enrolled with Silver Sneakers. Then, the YMCA can set the senior up with a basic senior membership.

The YMCA will work with the program to track the senior’s attendance and whether or not they are attending monthly or not attending monthly.

“I see this opening the door to a lot of seniors,” Leary said. “There are quite a few people who would not be able to afford a membership otherwise, but this program helps them get in the door and work towards having a healthy amount of exercise in their life.”

Leary said some seniors are nervous to start going to the gym or to attend the senior fitness classes offered on Mondays and Wednesdays.

“I tell them, they’re going to see people they know, they’re going to meet new friends and they’re going to love it,” Leary said. “They can hang out afterwards and have coffee and make lasting relationships with people from their community.”

Leary said seniors shouldn’t feel pressured to do more than they want to when they do visit the YMCA.

“Even if they come in and walk the track a few times, that’s them getting out of the house. That’s them getting up and being active, which is only a good thing.”

She said the YMCA does not monitor what the seniors are doing in the gym, so they shouldn’t ever feel embarrassed about how much or how little they’re able to do.”

“I love my seniors here,” Leary said. “It’s the highlight of my day when I see them coming in daily, or every other day, or once a week. We want them here. I enjoy seeing them come in.”

Leary said that seniors interested in the Silver Sneakers program have to do their own homework about getting enrolled — she is not supposed to track down the phone number for them. But once they’re enrolled, they’ll have 24/7 access to the facility and can come any time and work at their own pace with freedom to exercise when and how they want.

For more information: Go to www.SilverSneakers.com or call 1-888-423-4632 today to find out if your health plan offers Silver Sneakers and how to get started.