Changing Aging

Congratulations to Ecumen team members at The Pines and The Oaks in Hutchinson.  They were a recipient of an Ecumen Majestic Oak Award for Innovation, which they received for developing a new initative that improves the lives of the people we serve and is adapted at other Ecumen communities.  For more on the Ecumen Innovation Station program, go here.

(Pictured L to R: Peggy Sugheimer, Kathryn Roberts and Joyce Aakre after the planting of the Ecumen Majestic Oak in Hutchinson).

While prevention and fitness are becoming more prevalent in the next generation of seniors, they’re not as prevalent in the Greatest Generation. 

The team at Hutchinson (and Shelly Sohre, who now leads another Ecumen community) have created a fitness initiative where residents at The Oaks and The Pines pick a destination and then measure their miles.  They’ve walked to Sturgis, Chicago and Dallas.    When they reach their destination, they have a huge themed-party.  They also have had a philanthropic component tied to it where local businesses make donations based on the number of miles that our customers have walked. 

If you have other creative programs that engage today’s seniors in fitness, please share them.