It’s that time of the year when many of us start thinking about New Year’s resolutions Is yours about getting more exercise, toning up or losing weight? Is it to start a hobby or volunteer for a worth cause? Do you want to be more supportive of the cultural arts? Have an itch to travel or just want to make new friends? Well, this week, we’ll zero in on the fitness resolutions with a big WHY and a bit of HOW.
Lewes resident Connie Fox has some advice regarding resolutions that address exercise and the aging process. “Falling and lack of exercise are the prime reasons for one’s health decline, she says. “There is a lot of research that supports the value of regular exercise.” After completing her PhD in Assessments at the University of Georgia, she did post-doctoral work in gerontology.
Sussex County senior centers are a good place to start since they offer a broad array of exercise and socialization programs and there are so many more options, depending on one’s resolution.
The Lewes Senior Activity Center (LSAC) on Janice Road (near Nassau Winery), and the Cape Henlopen Senior Center on Christian Street have similar lists of offerings that range from dance lessons, exercise programs, arts and crafts classes and travel excursions but there are differences between the two centers.
For socialization, the LSAC also offers an ambitious line up of getaways that range from day trips to multi-day faraway places including bus trips to the Harrington and Dover Casinos, museums, and lunches at local restaurants/attractions. LSAC also organizes cruises as well as trips to domestic and international destinations. The annual membership fee is $40.
One of the strong suits of the Cape Henlopen Senior Center is its well-appointed fitness room that is outfitted with a number of upper and lower body workout machines. The fitness room also houses two billiards tables, and several Center members are part of a local billiards league. The annual membership fee is $30.
The seven senior centers operated by Cheer DE are in Milton, Lewes, Georgetown, Ocean View, Long Neck, Greenwood, and Roxana. Each has its own personality and offerings that mirror those of other senior centers. The selling point here is that one annual $30 membership allows access to all locations.
All Cheer Centers are open to individuals 50 and older. Their services and programs, while similar to those of the Lewes Senior Activity Center and the Cape Henlopen Senior Center, also focus more on seniors who might need additional care.
Side note: all senior centers are on the lookout for volunteers. So if you’re looking to connect, these are great causes to jump into.
There are additional options for those who want to get regular exercise or just “get in shape”. The 24-Hour Fitness location near the Walmart is one option. The Midway Motion and Fitness Center has seven rooms full of exercise equipment that include weights, upper body and lower body machines plus an amply array of treadmills. Midway offers free membership for those enrolled in the AARP Medicare Advantage program via United Healthcare. Seniors constitute a significant percentage of its membership.
And, according to Fox, simply walking on a regular basis is a free and easy way to improve one’s health. The Easy Striders Club offers regular walks on Sunday afternoons, typically at local state parks.
By Mary Jo Tarallo, Resident Journalist
Mary Jo Tarallo spent much of her career in public relations with various non-profits and spent 40 years involved with the ski industry as a journalist, public relations director for a national trade association and as executive director of the Learn to Ski and Snowboard initiative. Prior to her ski industry involvement she worked for the Maryland International Center in Baltimore and United Way of Central Maryland. She won a Gold Award for TV programming for a United Way simulcast that starred Oprah Winfrey. She has been cited for her work by numerous organizations. Mary Jo grew up in Baltimore, attended the University of Maryland and Towson University, lived in Washington, DC for 21 years and has been a full time resident of Rehoboth Beach and Milton since May 2019.
