Seniors' health focus of Beverly nursing center event

By Cate Lecuyer
Staff writer

May 28, 2008 05:28 am

BEVERLY — More often than not, a healthy person is an active person, and that's the twist on today's Senior Health and Fitness Day at Ledgewood Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center.

"It's not just a health fair," said Laurie Roberto, executive director. "It's all interactive."

Seniors can stop by the center at 87 Herrick St. to play the Nintendo Wii and work on their balance and movement, get some gardening tips, make a healthy fruit smoothie, draw or paint a picture as a way to relax, talk with a consultant to make sure they can mix all the medicine they're taking, and much more.

Getting seniors to participate in staying healthy is more effective, and more fun, than a normal fair with people at booths offering brochures and free samples, Roberto said.

"You go in, you pick up your freebies, and it's all this information at once, as opposed to it being interactive," Roberto said. By experiencing different ways to stay healthy, she hopes people will be inspired to make it a part of their everyday life, and perhaps find something new they like to do.

The fair is a part of the 15th annual National Senior Health and Fitness Day, which Ledgewood is celebrating for the first time.

If you go

What: Senior Health and Fitness Day

When: Today from 2 to 4:30 p.m.

Where: Ledgewood Rehabilitation and Skilled Nursing Center,87 Herrick St. (on the Beverly Hospital campus)

Admission: Free

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