Cedars-Sinai Gets Seniors Moving to Prevent Falls and Loneliness Skip to main content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Los Angeles, 06 August 2018 06:00 AM America/Los_Angeles Cedars-Sinai Gets Seniors Moving to Prevent Falls and Loneliness download Your browser does not support HTML5 video. Senior Exercise Class Cedars-Sinai At a recent workout in Los Angeles, twenty shadow boxers throw their fists in the air, shouting and counting their punches. But unlike most gym classes in the youth-obsessed city, everyone in this room is over 65 years old. In partnership with Jewish Family Services and Partners in Care Foundation, Cedars-Sinai has started offering free exercise and health-management classes at local community centers. The classes are designed to help seniors avoid two of the biggest threats to their wellbeing—falls and loneliness. "Social isolation can have the same negative impact on a senior’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day," said Allison Mays, MD, a geriatrician at Cedars-Sinai. "Isolated seniors are 50 percent more likely to die than someone who’s socially connected." Falls can be just as dangerous. In 2016, falls lead to the deaths of 30,000 seniors across the nation, a 30 percent increase compared to a decade earlier. "It’s really vital that we address these issues as part of someone’s overall health and part of their care," Mays added. " Patients who are socially engaged are healthier and more proactive about their healthcare, which reduces potentially avoidable trips to the ER and hospitalization. Sonja Rosen, MD „ Mays and other geriatricians helped organize the free exercise classes, which include weightlifting, stretching and balance exercises that can be adapted to any level of fitness. Developed by the Arthritis Foundation, the program increases senior strength and balance, and has been shown to decrease the risk of falling. Meanwhile, the group activity fosters friendships while increasing confidence. Programming will expand over the next three years—Tai Chi and advanced weightlifting will be added—thanks to a $625,000 AARP Foundation grant. Cedars-Sinai hopes that giving vulnerable older adults the tools to stay fit and social will help them keep their independence. "We are so excited that our new AARP grant will help us play a bigger role in the national effort to decrease social isolation in seniors," said Sonja Rosen, MD, associate medical director, Geriatric Care Programs and chief of Geriatric Medicine for Cedars-Sinai Medical Group. "We hope that the thousands of patients we enroll over the next few years will reduce their fall risk and social isolation. Patients who are socially engaged are healthier and more proactive about their healthcare, which reduces potentially avoidable trips to the ER and hospitalization." A senior and coach at a free exercise class at Pan Pacific Senior Activity Center in Los Angeles. Photo by Cedars-Sinai. By Cedars-Sinai Seniors stretch during a free exercise class in Los Angeles. Photo by Cedars-Sinai. By Cedars-Sinai Seniors work out during a free exercise class at Pan Pacific Senior Activity Center in Los Angeles. Photo by Cedars-Sinai. By Cedars-Sinai That sounds great to Victor Herzog, one of the boxers at the recent class held at the Pan Pacific Senior Activity Center. He said the twice-weekly workouts have helped him stay active after a bout of dizziness and trouble breathing sent him to the Cedars-Sinai Emergency Department. "Since then, I’d just been staying at the house, and that’s not my personality at all," said Herzog, 79. "I’m outgoing and love meeting people." He got a flyer in the mail after his hospital visit and liked that the class was free and within walking distance from his home. Herzog enjoys the workout, the encouraging coach and being around other people. "I feel so much better," he said. "Whatever you don’t use, you’re going to lose. And I was kind of losing it a little bit at a time." To register for a variety of classes, contact Katrina Rosales at 310-248-6242 or [email protected]. Contact the Media Team Email: [email protected] Contact Marni Usheroff marni.usheroff@cshs.org Share this release Cedars-Sinai Gets Seniors Moving to Prevent Falls and Loneliness Share on: Twitter Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn Search Our Newsroom Social media Visit our Facebook page (opens in new window) Follow us on Twitter (opens in new window) Visit our Youtube profile (opens in new window) (opens in new window) Latest news 07 Oct 2022 - HealthDay: Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries 07 Oct 2022 - Faculty Publications: Sept. 29-Oct. 6 07 Oct 2022 - Fine-Tuning Organ-Chip Technology 06 Oct 2022 - KCRW: Want New Omicron Booster? Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot 05 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Schedules Free Flu Vaccine Clinics 04 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Showcases Hispanic and Latinx Art Newsroom Home