Lisa Heysion, the Outreach Director at the Council on Aging, has lofty goals when it comes to senior citizens’ health and mental well-being. – Photo by Harry Kane

By Harry Kane

The Senior Olympics are coming to Somerville.  The Council on Aging is providing some incentive to sign up for the exercise classes and partake in the competition. Senior citizens who participate in eighteen separate exercise classes will win a bronze metal. After thirty classes the center will bestow participants with silver medals. With the successful completion of forty exercise classes members will receive gold medals.

Lisa Heysion, the Outreach Director at the Council on Aging, has lofty goals when it comes to senior citizens’ health and mental well-being. Heysion encourages seniors to come two or three times a week for exercise.

One of the women who attend many of the programs, Gerry Enos, said, “These programs get me out of the house. I enjoy coming to all their socials.” Enos also enjoys the day trips that they take her on. “The last one I went to was to Salem. We went to the witches house and had lunch.” Enos recalls the trip to Mt. Washington at the end of last year. “It’s nice there, and we go on a two hour boat ride.”

Heysion refers to the center as an “adult education cultural enrichment center.” The focus at the center is really to check into how the seniors are doing pathologically and mentally. “There is always something going on,” says Heyison.

Theresa Connolly frequents all the programs. “We have bingo five nights a week in Somerville. So, if you like bingo…and they have something for everyone.”

The new programming along with their Olympics is an effort to bring in more seniors than ever before. It used to be that seniors were considered sixty years and older but now the center has welcomed anyone fifty-five years or older to participate in the exercise classes.

There are two new exercise classes being offered starting in January. Chair Yoga and Zumba Gold are classes promoting strength, improving balance and overall well-being.

“Zumba Gold is sweeping the country literally, and so we’re part of it,” Heyison said.

“We can all lose a few pounds and some inches off the tuchus,” said Executive Director Cindy L. Hickey. “The cost comes down when you are healthy. When you loose weight you may not have to depend on medication. One woman lost weight and went off her blood medication.”

“Our goal and our mission is to keep people out of nursing homes and in the community, active and supportive,” Hickey said.

The Senior Olympics began on January 9 and ends on August 25. The Award ceremony takes place on September 5.

Video by Harry Kane