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Aging in Place by Design

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Aging in Place is a term used to describe the lifestyle choice for staying in your home, safely and independently, for as long as possible. Successful aging in place includes safety elements, health and support systems. It’s a description of how you want to live today and in the future. Proactively making decisions to reach that goal makes the transition of aging easier and less costly.

By 2030, 1 in 5 Americans will be over the age of 65. Approximately 10,000 people are retiring every day, and they are receiving Medicare and Social Security benefits right away. Not everyone will retire at 65, and some won’t live that long, but that’s a sobering number for the effect on these services. Some people are choosing to stay in their homes for as long as possible because of finances. The average cost of living in an assisted facility in Bellingham Wa is $4,500 / month, more if there are two people. Some choose to stay at home to be closer to friends, or they simply enjoy the neighborhood. Whatever the motivation, aging in your home is the most successful when you plan ahead.

When considering your method for Aging in Place, think about your project space (your home). Are you considering building a small retirement bungalow? Think about building a single story house. This will be the most accessible to you in the long run. When that isn’t feasible, including elements like an on-level entry, and a ground floor room that can be converted into a bedroom/living space are ways to make the home easily accessible. When starting fresh, try using a universal design for the bathroom and kitchen. For more information about the universal design, please visit http://landsemarchitect.com/about-universal-design/

Existing homes are more of a challenge, but some safety and comfort changes can be easy and inexpensive. Door knobs, lighting and adding non-slip tape to rugs are just a few simple improvements. Adding ramps and hand railings will add to the cost. If the retrofit is complex, such as a kitchen or bathroom, the financial requirements will increase. If the changes need to be made right away because someone has fallen or been injured, the price and complexity increase even more. When there is a strategy in place, much of this work can be done over time.

Good health and fitness are fundamental to increasing the success of aging in place. Building strength to continue your daily routines is essential. Balance and core strength help you stay on your feet safely. Cardio work for a healthy heart and endurance helps keep you independent. Exercising regularly is a key part of aging well and staying in your home. Following a workout plan that supports your lifestyle is essential.

Choosing to stay safe and independent in your home is the first step to successful aging in place. Learning about options and creating strategies to prepare for transitions is the next step. Proactively investing in your future well-being is how to accomplish your goals.

Want more information? I’ll work with you to make your home more accessible and safe. Email me so we can talk about your needs and how to achieve your goals.

Susie Landsem
Aging in Place by Design

Kettlebell

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A Kettlebell or in Russian “Girya” (ball or bell with a handle) was used over 350 years ago in Russia, as a certified handled counter weight for dry goods on market scales. Kettlebell lifting is the nation sport of Russia with national championships held each year. In the Russian Military, recruits are required as part of their training to use kettlebells. Kettlebells come in a range of styles/shapes and weights. They are primarily used for swinging, throwing, juggling, pressing, and holding type exercises.

What’s the difference between Kettlebells?

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There are basically two different styles of Kettlebells. In the picture to the left you see that the black Kettlebell has a thicker handle and a smaller body whereas the yellow Kettlebell on the right has a smaller handle and a much bigger body. The yellow Kettlebell is what they call a “Competition” Kettlebell named for its use in Kettlebell Competitions. The thickness of the handle and diameter of the bell are exactly the same in each weight. It allows for a smooth technique adaptation from one weight to the next. The “Competition” Kettlebell is much easier to swing than its counterpart which makes it a favorite with trainers and lifters alike. At BAC we feature “Competition” Kettlebells as a number of our staff were trained by World Champion and Master of Sport Coach Valery Federenko.

Why take Group Exercise classes?

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A common reason given for quitting an exercise program is boredom. A variety of class formats will keep you motivated and interested, as well as give you different instructor styles, music selection, and interaction with other participants. For many, an hour-long workout goes by very quickly when there is music playing and you are trying new exercises. People stay interested because of the social atmosphere provided by group exercise. This offers camaraderie and accountability among participants, as well as between participants and instructor.

Most people know exercise is good for them and want to begin exercising. However, they do not know the first step to take. They are bombarded with urgent messages from the media to exercise, but receive little guidance on how to initiate that process. This can be a very overwhelming task, especially when our lives are hectic. Group exercise offers a workout for all levels, ranging from beginner to advanced. Participants do not need to know how to develop a safe and effective workout or which machines to use or for how long; it is already done for them. They simply have to show up with a positive attitude, participate, and most importantly, have fun.

Giving back

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Now that the weather has turned windy and chilly, many of us are looking introspectively at our lives. Have you been blessed with a full pantry and some extra time on your hands? Want to spend a little time giving back to the community? We have several opportunities to support Whatcom County this fall! The Bellingham Athletic Club will be running a food drive this November! We are collecting nonperishable items for families in need of a little assistance this Holiday Season. If we all pitch in together, we can Lend a Hand in a big way this Thanksgiving. All donations will benefit the Bellingham Food Bank. As a way for us to give back to our members, we will be offering a free 3-day guest pass when you donate a grocery sized bag of nonperishable goods. So take a look through your pantry and bring your extra canned foods to BAC from November 1st – 30th.

If you have some extra time to donate, please consider volunteering for the Rise Against Hunger food packing event taking place on Sunday, November 5th! It will start at 9AM at St. Luke’s Health Education Center (3333 Squalicum Pkwy). We will be packing 75,685 meals and are still short on funding. Any donations are greatly appreciated. Each meal costs only $0.29 since the cost of shipping has already been paid by a generous donor. The meals with be going to aid hungry children and families of the recent disasters, Hurricane Maria, etc. What a great way to spend a few hours with either friends or family really making a difference in the world!

Fall Group Exercise Schedule

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Be sure to check out our new Fall Group Exercise schedule! There have been some changes in start times and Instructors, as well as additional Yoga classes at both clubs, Power Pump, and a lunch-time Total Body Conditioning at the Downtown club.

Lebert Equalizers!

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New equipment at BAC! Both BAC locations have now added the Lebert Equalizers! The Equalizer is a pair of parallette bars that are 28” off the ground, 24” long, and 12” wide constructed out of sturdy steel. They can be used in tandem with each other or individually. The Equalizers portability and versatility provide our instructors, personal trainers, and our members a new fitness tool to enhance, vary, and challenge workouts. To learn how you can utilize this great new tool please speak to one of our BAC Group Ex or Personal Training Staff. They would be happy to demonstrate the versatility of the EQUALIZER!

RIPPED

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Jeri is teaching RIPPED (season 30) Thursdays at the downtown club at 5:30 p.m. If you’ve been thinking about trying it out – now is the perfect time!

Top 10 Reasons to come to RIPPED Class:
1. Its efficient – you can burn an average of 750-1000 calories. You go hard so you CAN go home. You get all the cardio and resistance you need for the day.
2. Its motivating and fun! (Time flies when you’re having fun!)
3. Great music!
4. You never get bored! (With new seasons out on a regular basis, it will not only keep you interested but it will continue to SHOCK your body!)
5. STRONG is the new skinny
6. Athletic based
7. You earn the right to wear a shirt around the club that says R.I.P.P.E.D
8. Anyone can do it! Plenty of options given to modify or take it to a higher level!
9. You get results!
10. WHY NOT? If you can come up with a reason “WHY NOT TO DO R.I.P.P.E.D….refer to the 9 above!

Check out our own Jeri Winterburn in this RIPPED video from season 27!

Racquetball Tip – Missed Ceiling Shot

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How many times have you experienced the awful feeling of trying to catch up with your opponent’s shot when it flies from front wall to back wall and zips by you toward the front wall again? And what about that panicked feeling of what to do with the ball once you catch up to it? This should be a time when you could be thinking “Automatic Point for Me!” rather than feeling panicked about what to do. Here are a few tips to get you started in the right direction:
A missed ceiling shot is most often the cause for the above situation for experienced players. For beginners and some intermediates, it’s just an errant shot that flies too high in the court. If your opponent hits a ball that is obviously going to fly directly from front to back wall without bouncing, you should:
1. Take off running at top speed to the top line of the service box.
2. Pause there and look for the ball as it comes toward front court, getting turned sideways to be ready to hit a backhand or forehand shot.
3. Let the ball continue to come forward to the front of your stance and then move with it until you can contact the ball knee high or lower.
4. If you don’t have a sense of where your opponent is, don’t start trying to locate him/her now.
If you take your concentration and eyes away from the ball, you’ll surely miss the shot.
Shoot one of two shots:
– Directly into the front wall so that the shot “kills” (hitting below one foot into the front wall) and travels to a back corner of the court.
– “Pinch” the shot into the side wall so that it carries around a front corner of the court and dies.
BOTH of these shots should have a good chance to end the rally as long as you WAIT for the ball to be below your knees when you contact it. You can practice these shots by setting yourself up with these “fliers” on an empty court. If you practice your run and return over and over, that feeling of panic should leave you in an actual game situation and you’ll begin to think “AUTOMATIC POINT FOR ME!”