How Tapestry Residents Stay Fit
In each Whitney Place Tapestry Neighborhood, staff offers a daily exercise program with titles you’d expect to see at the local gym: “Train & Tone” “Sweat & Stretch” and “Core Matters” to name a few.
The Tapestry Program has incorporated four structured, seated exercise programs that rotate thoughtfully over the seven day week, focusing on cardio, strengthening, balance, and flexibility — the four main areas of exercise that the National Institute of Health/National Institute on Aging recommend for seniors to increase breathing and good heart rate, make it easier to do every day activities, reduce risk for falls, and give more freedom of movement.
A SALMON staff member developed this program, named the “SALMON signature Tapestry Exercise Program” in 2019, first getting hands-on experience by participating in the existing exercise program at a Whitney Place community to observe and better understand the group dynamic and needs of a Tapestry Neighborhood.
In Tapestry, morning exercise has always been a part of the Residents’ daily routine. We brought together the best practices of the seated exercises and incorporated weights, exercise bands, and exercise balls in a systematic way to optimize each movement while varying the muscle groups used and focus of movement for a total body workout!
The program rolled out through a collaboration between Kim Salmon, director of rehabilitation services for SALMON Health and Retirement, our director of fitness and aquatics at The Willows at Worcester, and me. Each campus’ recreation team received focused training in running the exercises and techniques for use with Residents with varying support needs and much more!
With the easy-to-follow daily booklets (with pictures and set up) and carts equipped with exercise tools on each campus, the recreation teams are creating a daily pattern of more advanced exercise for our residents in the Tapestry Program.
