LINCOLN Despite his intellectual disabilities, Justin Bainbridge lives with his best friend, who also has Down syndrome, in an apartment in west Omaha.

Bainbridge is on a state waiting list for a publicly funded helper to assist in managing the day-to-day chores at the apartment, so Justins mother pays for someone to do that.

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Excerpt from:
Special tax-exempt accounts gaining momentum in Legislature would allow more saving for disabled adults needs

By James Pruitt jpruitt@digitalfirstmedia.com Twitter: @BigPruitt

Enhance Fitness group with instructors Pam Mansfield (back row, second from left) and Karen Brannon (front row, third from left).

program offered at the Center is an evidence-based exercise program called Enhance Fitness (EF). This program is a low-cost, highly adaptable exercise program offering levels that are challenging and safe for older adults of all ability levels. One-hour group classes include stretching, flexibility, balance, low-impact aerobics, and strength-training.

Pat Flinn has been an EF participant for nearly six years. After I lost my husband, I needed to have a purpose to get out and stay active. I dragged my sister Jan to this exercise class and weve both been enjoying the physical benefits and friendships weve made. We have some members who stay in their chairs to exercise, but I like to challenge myself with extra weights, extra repetitions, and a faster pace. Its adaptable to your own needs, thats what makes it so great.

The outstanding success of Enhance Fitness is its positive participant outcomes. EF participants have shown a 52 percent improvement in depressive symptoms and 35 percent improvement in physical functioning. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) also published a study showing that Enhance Fitness showed promising evidence to drive down total healthcare costs, decrease unplanned hospitalizations, and decrease mortality rates for participating Medicare beneficiaries.

The Chelsea Senior Center partners with the National Kidney Foundation of Michigan (NKFM), who currently holds licensing for EF programs in 26 sites throughout Metro Detroit and Flint. All EF instructors are group

exercise and CPR certified, but also receive a special EF training and certification. Twice a year, NKFM staff come out to Chelsea and run fitness checks to measure EF participants physical status. These fitness checks measure any change in physical ability, upper and lower body strength or endurance, and balance.

Ken and Vi Johnson are new Chelsea residents who moved here from Minnesota to be closer to family. In their 80s, the Johnsons realized they were not getting the exercise they needed and made a commitment after Vis hip surgery to get back in shape. The program is very good and manageable. The instructor is always very

encouraging and reassures us that its OK to do it at your pace. Weve been in the program for two months and can recognize changes in the way we walk and are looking forward to being more physically fit.

Read more from the original source:
Senior Center offers Enhance Fitness in Chelsea, Grass Lake