Five years ago, Jonny moved into Village at Sierra, a National CORE affordable housing community, without knowing anyone.
“I was a loner,” said Jonny, 63.
Then he noticed Senior Fit.
Jonny walked over to the class and stopped in the doorway. Inside, residents were talking, laughing and exercising together. He watched for a few moments, considered joining and returned to his apartment.
The next week, he did it again.
Eventually, as Jonny stood watching from the doorway, a Senior Fit instructor came out and invited him inside.
Jonny joined the class and has been coming back ever since.
He said the class helped him get active and begin forming connections in a community where he had once felt isolated.
Social isolation can have serious repercussions for older adults, leading to health risks like cardiovascular disease, stroke and dementia, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Nearly one in four adults struggle with isolation.
“When I first moved in, I was completely alone,” Jonny said. “Now I’m almost the opposite. I’m meeting new people, I go more places and I hang out a lot more with people around here.”
For Jonny, Senior Fit has provided an opportunity to build those social connections while improving his physical health.
“I walk around now and it feels like more people in here know me than I know people in here,” he said.
Jonny spends time with his neighbors, joins outings and helps distribute flyers for upcoming events throughout the community.
Senior Fit has helped him physically, too. Jonny said his endurance has improved, he can walk farther and the exercises have helped with a rotator cuff issue.
These days, Jonny no longer stands outside the Senior Fit classroom wondering whether to walk in.
When instructor Christina arrives, he is ready to exercise alongside the neighbors who have become his friends. He laughs with them, sings along to the music and even donated the speaker Christina now uses to play her workout playlist.
“I’m ready to get to work because these women, they keep me on my toes, they keep me motivated,” Jonny said.
For residents who might be standing where he once stood, wondering whether to join, Jonny has simple advice.
“Take the chance and walk inside” he said. “The people in there are really nice people. They’ll welcome you with open arms.”
