HEALTH & FITNESS
PAGE 6FF
Marietta Daily Journal/SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 2013
WellStar rebrands
Marietta campus now known as WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center From staff reports
SAVVY
SENIORS
MARIETTA — Visitors may notice new exterior signage at WellStar Kennestone Hospital. In an effort to reflect its full array of health services and geographical draw, Wellstar has rebranded the Marietta campus to WellStar Kennestone Regional Medical Center. WellStar Kennestone Hospital remains the anchor of the 56-acre campus bordered by Tower Road on
the north, Cherokee Street on the east, Lacy Street on the south and North Avenue on the west. Candice Saunders, WellStar executive vice president and president of WellStar Kennestone Hospital, said, “As we looked at the Kennestone campus and had conversations with our community and advisors, we have grown to include a lot of other health services See WellStar, Page 7FF
Amia Freeman of Austell leads a Zumba Gold class at the Cobb Senior Wellness Center.
Keeping healthy more important than ever
5
By Geoff Folsom
SENIOR TIPS
Check with your doctor before starting any exercise program. Find out if any health conditions or medications you take affect what exercise you should choose.
1.
Start slow. If you are new to exercise, a few minutes a day puts you well on the way toward building a healthy habit. Slowly increase the time and intensity to avoid injury.
2.
Walking is a wonderful way to start exercising. Exercise doesn’t have to mean strenuous activity or time at the gym. In fact, walking is one of the best ways to stay fit. Best of all, it doesn’t require any equipment or experience and you can do it anywhere.
3.
Load up on high-fiber fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Your whole digestive system is slower, so fiber is very important. Consume fiber-rich foods such as whole grains, fruit and vegetables. They will help you feel more energetic and give you fuel to keep going.
4.
Watch out for dehydration. Because of physical changes, older adults are more prone to dehydration. So make sure you are drinking plenty of fluid, even if you don’t feel thirsty. If you’re not getting enough water, you’re not going to be as sharp and your energy will suffer.
5.
Source: helpguide.org
Staff/Emily Barnes
Above: Genevieve Jordan of Powder Springs works out in the Zumba Gold class at the Cobb Senior Wellness Center. Below: Barbara Mont-Ros of Smyrna goes through the dance-like moves.
gfolsom@mdjonline.com
A
s people grow older, the need for keeping healthy becomes more important than ever. “Obesity is a big problem,” said Dr. Allen Hoffman, WellStar Health System’s director of community health care, who oversees three community health clinics, including one in the recently opened Cobb Senior Wellness Center. “As you age, your metabolic requirements go down and you don’t need as many calories a day.” Hoffman said seniors face many of the same health challenges the rest of the population does, such as a lack of activity and poor diet choices. But choosing a way to approach them can depend on a number of factors, including whether or not the senior is dealing with injuries. In general, Hoffman recommends light weightlifting, walking and swimming. “Swimming is probably the best exercise if you have access to a pool and aren’t afraid of the water,” he said. It also is important for seniors to be educated on what foods are good, such as fresh fruits and vegetables, and what can be unhealthy, like many types of fast food, Hoffman said. “How do you teach people to eat right and teach people to exercise when pop culture doesn’t support it?” he said. “When you see fast food advertised every time you turn your head?” The new Senior Wellness Center is one way the county is looking to give people another alternative. Sandee Panichi, the Wellness Center’s program coordinator, said it offers numerous exercise and cooking classes, as well as a café with healthy food options. Among the exercise classes offered for Diabetic Foot Care • Bunion Correction • Hammertoe Correction seniors are Zumba, Pilates, tai chi and even Lazer Treatment for Toenail Fungus • Sports Performance line dancing. Panichi said that around the end Sports/Recreational Injury • Ingrown Toenail Repair of February, the faciliPlantar Fascitis • Aesthetic Podiatry • Sterile Spa Pedicures ty’s operations expect to open its workout studio, with equipment such as treadmills and elliptical machines. The 42,000-squarefoot wellness center, located at 1150 Powder Springs St., has 22,000 square feet dedicated to art and physical fitness. One goal of senior Board Certified fitness is to keep people Podiatric Surgeon out of nursing homes or extended living care for as long as possible, she said. 147 Johnson Ferry Road, Suite 4230 “I think it benefits society as a whole,” Marietta, Georgia 30068 Panichi said. “The more we can keep people healthy, the more it PodiatryGroupofGeorgia.com benefits our social service system.”
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