As far as Pamela Patton is concerned, it's never too late to get in shape. That's especially relevant in her job as the wellness director at Queen Anne's Bayview Manor retirement community.
"You have to do something if you want to stay strong and independent," explains Patton (formerly Miskimmon). That includes for residents and for those in assisted-living programs at Bayview.
Exercise programs also can help those in a 50-bed skilled-nursing section of the retirement home as long as the programs are part of the patients' recovery plan, she said. "But we are also open to anybody in the (surrounding) community who's over 50 and who wants a gym membership," Patton added.
Exercise programs are done on an individual basis at Bayview Manor, she said. "We find out what they like to do, what inspires them and what they've done in the past." The programs also target specific areas of the body. If someone's arms or legs are weak, for instance, the exercise programs focuses on those particular muscles, Patton said.
Much has changed since she first started working at Bayview 18 years ago. Back then, women weren't supposed to sweat, and some would show up for exercise classes wearing dresses, she remembered with a smile. "It's a different attitude now."
Strength training is essential for good health, according to Patton, who said people start losing muscle mass when they hit 30. The retirement home has a lap pool, and Bayview recently got all new Keiser exercise machines, thanks to a $43,000 Glasser Foundation grant, she said.
The old equipment had been donated by Regence in 1985, and it definitely needed to be replaced, according to Patton.
Patton got an undergraduate degree in dance education and a masters in movement therapy, "which gives me a holistic background, which is how I approached this job," she said.
Some of the thinking is out of the box, too. "We do mental and physical games that help enhance the memory," Patton said. Bayview also has an acupuncturist to treat physical problems, along with a meditation room and meditation classes to help reduce stress. Reducing stress is important to good health, according to Patton. "I think 80 percent of medical visits are due to underlying stress conditions," she said.
Coaching people can help them reach fitness goals in ways that are comfortable for them, Patton said. "I really like doing it," she added. "I see such amazing changes."[[In-content Ad]]
