CUMBERLAND, B.C. – A new program is set to be launched in Cumberland that will help seniors get active.
Choose to Move is a six-month program based off of scientific research that will help motivate people 65 and older.
The program comes from the results of work by the University of British Columbia’s Active Aging Research Team.
Participants will work one-on-one with an activity coach to develop a personal plan that fits with their lifestyle and preferences.
For the first three months, seniors will meet with their coach for guidance, and will connect at least once a month with their peers and coach for support.
“With the support of their activity coach and peers, participants add more physical activity into their daily lives, which makes it easier to continue being active once the program is finished,” said researcher Christa Hoy.
The program will be hosted at the Cumberland Recreation Institute.
“Choose to Move is unique because participants get to choose how they want to be active” said Genevieve Burdett at Cumberland Recreation.
It is not a fitness class, so participants don’t have to go to the gym. Instead, they choose activities they like to do.
The program is being offered through the BC Recreation and Parks Association and the YMCA, with the support of the UBC research team.
So far, Choose to Move has run in 28 communities across British Columbia.
A free information session will be held on September 11th at the Cumberland Recreation Institute from 1 to 2:30 p.m.
The program will begin the following Tuesday, on September 18th at 1:00 p.m.
More details can be found through Cumberland Recreation’s website.
