Wellness Program
at Hillcrest
Healthy Aging: Senior Wellness Programs
Senior health and wellness starts here!
Our Wellness Philosophy
Hillcrest operates on the researched-inspired principle that whole-person wellness involves a multidisciplinary approach considering every dimension of a person’s life. Residents want to remain vibrant, healthy, contributing members of family and society. Activity helps maintain their cognitive capacities and memories, find meaning in life, share wisdom, and feel happy and fulfilled.
Accordingly, Hillcrest has adopted a model with seven distinct health and well-being principles to guide its Life Enrichment and Wellness strategies. These include: Body, Mind, Spirit, Environment, Emotion, Relationships, and Pursuits.
Residents Have Access To Up-to-date Tools
Seniors maximize individual potential, vitality, and wellness by:
- Body: Promoting physical health, including exercise, nutrition, and preventive and therapeutic health components
- Mind: Providing opportunities for continuing intellectual growth and the maintenance or improvement of cognitive abilities
- Spirit: Engaging in activities, events, and programs that encourage a sense of life purpose, inner strength, and a meaningful connection with something beyond oneself
- Environment: Maintaining an environment in which it is natural for health to flourish and supporting a relationship with the environment that recognizes the innate value of its many resources
- Emotions: Maintaining healthy, positive attitudes; developing skills for handling life’s challenges; and promoting healthy levels of self-confidence and self-esteem
- Relationships: Encouraging supportive, positive relationships in a caring community, including Hillcrest associates and residents, as well as family and friends
- Pursuits: Exploring opportunities for personal growth and enrichment through creativity, volunteerism, financial awareness, and meaningful hobbies, as well as seeking new life experiences of personal interest and meaningfulness
Wellness is an individual responsibility, and attitude is as important as exercise. Concurrently, Hillcrest recognizes the tremendous influence that organizational culture has upon personal choice and, as a result, is committed to an integrative, whole-person wellness approach. Hillcrest rises to provide the physical space and equipment to support residents’ health and wellness, along with the programs and resources necessary to achieve a true sense and experience of wellness.
At Hillcrest, this includes the Aquatic and Fitness Center (AFC), Resident Services Center, Village Center, Chapel, contributions of the Resident Life & Wellness department, options for therapy in Woods Health Services and the Integrative Therapy Room, flexible dining services, and opportunities for involvement with quality organizations outside of Hillcrest.
Aquatic Exercise
Jump right in – the water’s great! Hillcrest’s popular water exercise classes focus on cardiovascular and strength benefits, with classes conducted in our beautiful, state-of-the-art, heated indoor pool at our Aquatic & Fitness Center. Whether trying to maintain your current fitness level or reach a new level, the added benefit of training in water makes our aqua workouts enjoyable and fun without a high impact on the joints.
From water aerobic exercises to water walking exercises, working out in the pool is an excellent non-impact way to build strength, reduce body fat, and increase flexibility. These classes may use resistance tools that include buoyant water weights and noodles. Because of their low-impact format, aqua aerobics classes suit every fitness level. Enjoy the rewards of your hard work, before or after you exercise, and relax in our jacuzzi.
Strength Training
Our fitness center offers weight training equipment to work every part of your body. The resistance/strength training and cardiovascular conditioning programs provide equipment such as Nautilus, Nu-Step recumbent steppers, Quinton treadmills, free weights, and stability balls. We also offer one-on-one guidance for our special needs residents.
Cardiovascular Exercise
Hillcrest offers daily walking classes. Walking is a way to get to know our community. It is also a superb way to enhance physical and mental health.
Keep your heart healthy with regular low-impact aerobic senior workout classes designed for all fitness levels. We incorporate a chair into the workout for standing and seating support – enabling you to push yourself as far as you want
Wellness Library Collection
Hillcrest is proud of its extraordinary Wellness Library. With over 1,800 titles, it is thought to be the largest selection of books on wellness in any senior community in the country. Titles are carefully curated by name, author, and topic and are available for resident use in the Aquatic & Fitness Center.
Instructional & Specialty Classes
Hillcrest’s programs and classes include an optional Personal Fitness Evaluation conducted by our trained and certified staff, followed by a tailor-made exercise program for each resident. Hillcrest’s AFC staff will be with you every step of the way, eliminating guesswork and clearing a path toward your fitness goals in a tailored manner. Our programs facilitate staying active and managing better health to enhance the quality of life to maintain living independently.
Three distinct fall prevention and balance classes are offered in our Aquatic & Fitness Center several mornings per week, ensuring you have the help you need to keep you up and active. Additionally, chair exercise classes are held throughout our campus.
Our mind/body classes are a great way to quiet the chatter of daily life. Mind/body classes improve flexibility, strength, and balance while enhancing your posture, coordination, and mental focus. Chair Yoga, Chair Pilates, and Gentle Range of Motion classes are fantastic ways to relieve stress and rejuvenate.
Our certified instructors are eager to motivate, challenge and coach you to give your personal best in every group exercise activity. We have enthusiastic teachers and classes, whether your goal is to lose weight, improve balance, increase muscle tone or find inner peace. Our group instructors know the science of the program they are teaching.
Instructors understand group dynamics and how to create an inclusive and effective workout environment by suggesting various options throughout the class. Working out is never boring in group exercise! Taking a class with other residents makes you realize you are not alone in your fitness journey.
The energy, passion, commitment, and hard work you find in our classes are contagious. You’ll leave every workout ready to address the rest of your day and look forward to your next class.
Class Schedule
Finding a fitness class that works with your schedule is simple. Whether you’re looking for an overall fitness experience or specific workouts, you’ll find our exercise class schedule provides a positive and motivational environment to help you stay on track with your wellness routine.
Hillcrest’s fitness classes are now open to the public (at no charge for residents). For the latest AFC Schedule, call (909) 392-4029.