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Better Health D |
TRAVEL: Hiking in Zagori, Greece, D5 MUSEUMS: New Eric Carle exhibit opens, D9 HEALTH: Why more older people are dying from falls, D9
| SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2025
Focusing on
Mind, Body and Wellness the new Vitality Hub at
Glenmeadow SPONSORED CONTENT BY ADVERTISING
By Anne-Gerard Flynn
Special To The Republican
It is no surprise that Glenmeadow’s recently-opened Vitality Hub with its new pool, state-of-the-art fitness machines and expanded exercise area has proven popular with the current 150 residents at the Longmeadow community that offers seniors 62 and older independent and assisted living options. Their average age may be in the mid-80s, but Glenmeadow President and Chief Executive Officer Kathy Martin noted that “Glenmeadow and our residents have always been interested in physical activity.” “Our exercise classes are some of the most well-attended programs that we have,” said Martin who holds a doctorate in physical education and was a collegiate field hockey player. “It did not take a whole lot of convincing for our residents to use the Vitality Hub that opened this spring.” She said the name ‘Vitality Hub’ was chosen to reflect that wellness happens everywhere at Glenmeadow, not just in a space that includes a pool and fitness center. Residents have praised both its design and upgrades that include access to fitness equipment that tracks their individual workouts. “The brand name of our weight-stack machines is HUR and they are specifically designed for older adults,” Martin said. “The machines operate with fob access so, residents flash their fob and a personalized screen will come up, welcoming them personally to their workout. The machine adjusts to their specifications and will also prompt the user to increase their weights when appropriate.” Glenmeadow is one of
only two communities in Massachusetts with HUR equipment. For Martin, HUR features are a “wonderful tool because it promotes education and safety, ensuring that users are being positioned correctly in a machine to avoid injury.” “Our residents love it,” she said. “Our staff who can train our residents to use the machines, including our Director of Wellness Kinga Guberow, whose office is located in the fitness center to assist as well.” Martin added the Hub also includes the “brand new pool and hot tub/spa, locker room,
(MAIN PHOTO: COURTESY OF ISTOCK IMAGES) (ABOVE PHOTOS: COURTESY OF GLENMEADOW)
strength training.” There are also facilitated classes, such as sound healing, in which sound vibrations are used to promote physical, mental, and emotional well-being. The focus is on programming that addresses social, spiritual, and intellectual aspect of wellness. “Our programs are accessible to all ages and all ability levels,” Martin said. “The focus to all our wellness programming is to meet people where they are and to not have anything seem like a barrier to participation.” The importance of preventing older Americans from be-
and strength can help reduce your fall risk, increase your resistance to injury and accelerate your recovery from injury.” Martin, who had been an assistant provost at UMass-Amherst before being named to head Glenmeadow in Fall 2023, said she admires the commitment Glenmeadow residents have to their exercise and fitness routines. “Regular exercise is important at every age,” Martin said. “It is absolutely inspiring to see some of our residents have the motivation and commitment to do that every day.”
“There are a lot of opportunities for socialization at Glenmeadow,” Martin said. “It is something powerful to have dinner every night with friends, to meet up with someone to go for a walk after breakfast, or a group to play Mahjong with or Bridge.” Some of the most popular programs focusing on intellectual engagement are led by residents, Martin said, with the newest peer offering an introduction to Shakespeare. She said residents respect each other’s privacy but that “people do look out for each other.” “You can be as social as you
of the work they are doing to redefine aging, including its Age of Excellence Awards, which were presented for a second year in recognition of individuals over 60 who continue to make a difference. The sold-out event on Sept. 3 at Springfield Country Club honored nine individuals selected from around 30 nominations. Rick Sullivan, president and CEO of Western Mass Economic Development Council, received an honorary award for his efforts in regional business and job growth since 2015; he retires at year’s end. For the first time, a caregiver was recognized: the 2025 recipient is Betty Alban, honored for her dedication to her 97-year-old “It is not only exercise for the sake of exercise but it is mother. “The awards are Glenhelping our residents and by extension our staff to meadow-centric and also Glenmeadow adjacent,” understand the longer-term benefits of regular Martin said. “They are an physical exercise particularly strength training.” important opportunity for all of us to remember that life Kathy Martin - Glenmeadow President and Chief Executive Officer does not end when you retire from your professional role. Whether you live in a commuand a massage therapy room. coming socially isolated is a The average life expectanwant to be but, but you are nity like Glenmeadow or are We used the footprint of the key contributor to emotional cy from birth in the United also in touch with people who still in your own home there pool that was there, adding health and aging well. Martin States in 2025 is projected to will help you with whatever are any number of ways to contribute.” a ramp for accessibility, and noted that “the longer-term be 79.25 years, a few years you are experiencing that added on the fitness center benefits of physical activity less than comparable wealthy day,” Martin said. “There is Martin said the awards also and open exercise studio,” she are well documented.” countries. something to be said to be address “the need to lift up said. She said the educational Martin takes pride that among others who are having a segment of our population She called the “pool area part of fitness and exercise is Glenmeadow’s size - there similar experiences to what that is often forgotten.” very serene and resort-like.” balanced with the importance are 113 independent living you are having. You are not “There are the 40 under “It looks out on what is reof participation at Glenmead- units and 34 assisted living alone.” Forty and 18 under 18 Awards given in some communities ally the back of Forest Park,” ow. apartments – is fully integratResidents at Glenmeadow “It is not only exercise for ed for residents in both levels include those who have lived and we are delighted we had Martin said. “You can sit on a chaise lounge on the pool the sake of exercise, but it of care. locally as well as those who the idea to recognize older adults as well,” she said. deck and read a book if you is helping our residents and The Glenmeadow commoved there to be closer to A nonprofit with a board don’t want to go for a swim.” by extension our staff to plex opened on 23 acres in family. Some continue to The Hub opened in March understand the longer-term Longmeadow in 1997, but its work, while others are fully of directors, Glenmeadow after 18 months of construcbenefits of regular physical history traces to a home in retired. is private pay and uses an entrance fee compared to a tion and renovation. Its exercise particularly strength Springfield for older women Martin calls the “intewithout means that opened grated nature of wellness rental model for its indepenfitness center is open daily to training,” Martin said. all independent and assisted “We talk with residents in 1886. at Glenmeadow one of our dent living apartments. It living residents with “any about the muscles they are One of its three separate hallmarks” as well as its also offers respite care as well number of classes offered building, their function in dining areas features a fireconnection to the resources of as in-home services to the in the open studio space inanatomy, and how focusing place surround that speaks to Western Massachusetts. Greater Springfield Area. cluding flexibility, cardio and on your core and flexibility the residence’s beginnings. She is particularly pleased