Monthly Monday Mission Update:
Active at Every Age
What does it mean to stay active as we age (not that any of us is aging…)?
For Marna Brown-Krausz, it means getting in the pool every other day.
Swimming has been part of Marna’s life for years. In fact, when she and her husband moved to Maryland three and a half years ago to be closer to their son and his growing family, having access to a pool was high on her list of priorities. That search eventually led her to the Dancel Y in Ellicott City.
Today, at 72, Marna hasn’t slowed down. She recently completed a Master of Fine Arts degree and continues her regular swimming routine. She describes swimming as an opportunity to quiet her mind, relax and take care of herself both physically and mentally.
As Marna puts it, “After my swim, I feel like a million bucks.”
There’s plenty of science behind that feeling. According to the CDC, physical activity for adults 65 and older can improve sleep, reduce feelings of anxiety and lower blood pressure. Over time, staying active can also strengthen bones, improve balance, help people maintain their independence and reduce the risk of several chronic diseases.
But there is another part of healthy aging that is just as important to Marna’s Y experience: connection.
At the Dancel Y, Marna has developed a friendship with Y membership associate Laura Dispenza, whom she sees almost every day. She loves the welcoming atmosphere of the Y and seeing people of different ages come together. And now, the pool that initially brought her to the Y has become a place where three generations of her family can connect. Marna brings her 16-month-old grandson to Water Adventure, giving her the opportunity to spend time with both her son and grandson while helping the youngest member of the family become comfortable in the water.
Marna’s experience captures something important about the role the Y can play as we age.
Today, approximately 17,000 Y members across Central Maryland are age 65 or older. Some come to swim laps like Marna. Others take a group exercise class, work on strength and balance, or participate in specialized health initiatives such as Pedaling for Parkinson’s and our Diabetes Prevention Program.
In September, we celebrated many of these members during Healthy Seniors Day, with activities ranging from chair yoga and mahjong to chronic disease prevention clinics. But supporting healthy aging isn’t something we do one day a year. It’s part of creating an enriching community in which people can continue to grow, connect and thrive at every stage of life.
Our recent member survey reinforces just how important that community can be. Among our senior members:
- 92% say they feel comfortable being themselves at the Y.
- 89% say the Y meets their physical needs.
- 82% report a sense of belonging, inclusion and well-being as a Y member.
- 70% say the Y meets their need for social connection, relationships and community.
Those numbers tell a story that goes well beyond fitness.
Healthy aging is about continuing to move, certainly. But it’s also about continuing to belong. To learn something new. To make friends. To spend meaningful time with family. To have a place where people know your name and are happy to see you walk through the door.
Marna found that place at the Y.
And whether someone is 7, 37 or 72, that sense of connection is at the heart of what the Y is all about.
Because thriving doesn’t have an age limit.
All the best,
John K. Hoey
President & CEO