This can be especially helpful for adult children who want to help an aging parent become more active but live too far away to manage everything in person. It can also help seniors who are not comfortable using the Internet, creating online accounts, scheduling appointments or managing technology.
ElderFIT was designed to make it easier for families to connect their loved ones with in home personal trainers for seniors while giving family members a practical way to stay involved.
Why Would a Family Member Sign Up a Senior for ElderFIT?
Many older adults want to stay stronger, more mobile and independent, but finding and scheduling a qualified personal trainer can feel overwhelming. Some seniors do not want to go to a gym, while others may not be comfortable researching trainers or navigating online booking systems.
An adult child, spouse, sibling or caregiver can help get the process started. They can research trainers, review profiles, coordinate the initial visit and provide important information about the senior's goals and needs.
The senior still works directly with the trainer. The family member simply provides an extra layer of support and accountability when it is helpful.
Can a Family Member Manage the ElderFIT Account?
Yes, and we encourage family members to help when a senior needs it.
Although ElderFIT has worked hard to simplify the online experience, some seniors simply are not comfortable with technology. Creating an account, remembering passwords, monitoring upcoming sessions and navigating online scheduling can become frustrating.
A family member can handle these administrative responsibilities so the senior can focus on the part that matters most: working with the trainer.
There is another important ElderFIT advantage. Our trainers can help take over the ongoing scheduling process. Once the relationship is established, the trainer can communicate with the senior about upcoming sessions rather than requiring the senior or a busy family member to repeatedly go online and schedule each workout.
The ultimate goal is simple: less technology and scheduling stress, and more consistent exercise for the senior.
What Is the ElderFIT Family Account?
The ElderFIT Family Account gives family members another way to stay connected to a senior's fitness journey.
An adult child or other family member can receive information about training sessions, communicate with the trainer and follow the senior's progress. The account can help families participate in their loved one's health and wellness without requiring them to manage every workout.
This is particularly valuable for families who live in different cities or states. Instead of wondering whether Mom is exercising or how Dad's training is going, family members can have a better understanding of what is happening.
Why Are Trainer Notes So Valuable to Families?
Trainer notes provide something that many families cannot easily get on their own: another set of eyes on the senior's physical abilities and progress.
An ElderFIT trainer may see a senior regularly and notice changes that aren't obvious to a family member who visits occasionally or lives hundreds of miles away.
For example, a trainer might notice that a senior is having more difficulty with balance, standing from a chair, walking, completing familiar exercises or performing everyday movements. They might also notice unusual fatigue or a change in confidence or mobility.
A trainer is not a doctor and should not diagnose a medical condition. However, these observations can provide an additional layer of information that helps a family recognize that something may have changed.
That can be particularly valuable when family members don't live nearby. A trainer's observations may prompt a son, daughter or caregiver to have a conversation with the senior or recommend that they speak with their healthcare professional.
In this way, ElderFIT provides more than a workout. The trainer becomes another informed professional observing the senior's functional wellness over time.
Does a Family Member Need to Be at the Training Session?
No. We built ElderFIT to allow family members to feel empowered enough to help their senior loved ones even though they may not live in close proximity.
ElderFIT trainers are accustomed to working directly with seniors, and a family member does not generally need to be present during every visit.
However, there are situations when having a family member or caregiver present can be especially helpful. This may include seniors dealing with dementia or cognitive challenges, significant mobility limitations, complicated health histories or difficulty communicating their needs.
A family member can help make sure the trainer understands important health and fitness concerns.
Even when the family member cannot attend, they can communicate with the trainer before and after visits. This gives the trainer an opportunity to remain informed about ongoing challenges while allowing the family to stay connected to the senior's progress.
For families who live far away, this communication can provide valuable peace of mind.
What If the Senior Has Health Challenges?
ElderFIT trainers work with older adults with a wide range of fitness abilities and physical challenges. However, personal trainers are not physicians.
If a senior has a significant health condition, recently underwent surgery, is recovering from an injury or has other medical concerns, they should speak with their healthcare professional about exercise before beginning a new fitness program. They should also obtain a medical release form from the physician to help provide additional guidance to the ElderFIT trainer.
The trainer can then use appropriate information to help develop a safe and individualized approach within their professional scope.
Helping Your Parent Stay Stronger and More Independent
The goal of ElderFIT isn't simply to help a senior complete another workout. It is to help older adults maintain the strength, mobility, balance and confidence they need to live as independently as possible.
And families don't have to do it alone.
You can help find an ElderFIT trainer, request the first visit, manage the account and stay connected through a Family Account while the trainer works directly with your loved one.
Ready to help your senior family member get started? Search ElderFIT by ZIP code to find local in home personal trainers for seniors, review trainer profiles and request an initial visit for your loved one.