No matter your age or ability, you can be active and move!

That’s the message a nationally known fitness expert recently brought to Alabama nursing home residents.

Chris Freytag led an exercise and wellness class at Golden Living Center Oneonta as part of National Active Aging Week.

Using lively music and her energetic personality, Chris taught a fitness lesson and motivated over 100 nursing home residents and employees to stay active and lead a healthy lifestyle.

“It is a wonderful to see their eyes light up,” she said. “They’re a wonderful group of people and appreciative of our attention.”

Even nursing home residents using wheelchairs or other mobility assistance devices joined in on the fun.

“A lot of them will say ‘I can’t do it,’ but then you see them start moving,” Chris said. “It’s important to know that any movement counts…from tapping your toes to clapping hands your hands or you’re lifting arms.”

Following the class, everyone walked or used their wheelchair to make a lap around the exercise course. Each nursing home resident that participated received special gifts.

The event was also part of the national event WALK! with Aegis Therapies from September 22-26. Sponsored by Aegis Therapies, WALK! with Aegis Therapies features planned daily walks for 15-30 minutes and fun-filled activities to promote the dimensions of wellness, including physical, intellectual, emotional, spiritual, occupational, social and environmental wellness each day. Golden Living Center Oneonta was one of over 700 long term care centers across the country to participate.

Now in her sixth year of partnering with Aegis Therapies, Chris gains just as much inspiration and encouragement as she gives during these events.

“My heart is warmed by seeing all of the wonderful staff in these nursing homes,” she said. “They have hearts of gold and are passionate about what they do. It is so fulfilling and one of my favorite weeks of the year.”

National Active Aging Week is a program of the International Council on Active Aging.

Click here to view a photo gallery of the event on Aegis Therapies’ Facebook page.

For more information about Chris Freytag, visit her website or follow her on Facebook.

About Golden LivingCenter Oneonta:
Golden Living Center Oneonta is a 120-bed skilled nursing care center located in Oneonta. It offers long term care, rehabilitation and dementia care. Suzy Shelton is the Administrator and Amanda Horton is the Director of Nursing.