Creating Healthy Opportunities
posted
by Maghan Bowman on Monday, July 17, 2023
People are enjoying all this community has to offer by way of health and wellness through our Supported Community Living enhancements.
We challenge ourselves daily to ensure the persons we support know it's their life and they can live it their way. Along with that, we work hard to educate and support them in taking part of the endless opportunities this community as to offer.
Let's talk about some of the health and wellness activities people are taking part in:
- Walking Clubs
- Bowling
- Kickboxing
- Basketball
- Pickleball
- Yoga
- Chair Yoga
- Swimming
- Ping Pong
- Tai Chi
- and so much more!
“It has been so fun hearing of the activities people are enjoying. Our biggest goal is to improve the health and well-being for the people we support, and with My Life, My Way, we are able to do just that,” said Katie Slade, EPI’s Executive Director.
Studies have found, people with differing abilities are less likely to get preventative health care services they need to stay healthy.1
Here are the physical and mental health benefits of exercise found on the CDC website:
- Can improve stamina and muscle strength
- Reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression
- Improves mood
- Promotes general feelings of wellbeing
- Helps control joint swelling and pain associated with arthritis
- Helps reduce high blood pressure
One small way to improve well-being of persons served is to provide activities they enjoy and support them in getting there.
We’ve noticed, having a social support makes completing physical activity much easier to complete. Staff and persons served end up partnering on healthier lifestyles together.
What we as a community can do.
We must work together to ensure environments and facilities are available and accessible to people with disabilities, such as offering safe, accessible, and attractive trails for bicycling, walking, and wheelchair activities.
Encourage health care providers to talk routinely to their patients with disabilities about incorporating physical activity into their lives.
1. Marrocco, A. & Krouse, H.J. (2017). Obstacles to Preventive Care for Individuals with Disability: Implications for Nurse Practitioners. Journal of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, 29(5), 282-293. DOI: 10.1002/2327-6924.12449