Behavioral Health
May 11, 2022

SilverSneakers Marks Unparalleled 30 Year Legacy of Reinventing Active Aging

SilverSneakers Marks Unparalleled 30 Year Legacy of Reinventing Active Aging
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SilverSneakers® by Tivity Health®, the nation's leading community fitness program for seniors, will host a series of virtual and in-person events and activities throughout 2022 to honor its rich history and steadfast growth over the past 30 years. The company is not only celebrating the brand's longevity, but also its evolution to a healthy lifestyle program that continues to meet our members where they are by offering in-person and virtual senior-focused curriculum, physical activity, social engagement, and mental enrichment opportunities.

SilverSneakers is a proven, trusted program that continues to make a difference in the lives of seniors and their families. In the Company's 2021 Annual Member Survey, members share how SilverSneakers participation and physical activity impacts their health:

  • 88% of members say SilverSneakers has "improved my quality of life"
  • 86% feel healthier because of SilverSneakers
  • 52% "I have made new and valuable friendships"
    • Depression among participants is 64% less prevalent than the CMS national benchmark.
    • SilverSneakers Net Promoter Score -- which measures the likelihood that someone would recommend the program to a friend -- is 83, significantly higher than many leading national brands. The top 25% of organizations have an NPS of 72 or higher.

"We are looking forward to celebrating three remarkable decades of SilverSneakers, the millions of lives it has improved, and the many ways we are defining the future of health and wellness for older adults," said Richard Ashworth, president and chief executive officer of Tivity Health. "Today, we offer seniors a network of more than 23,000 fitness locations and thousands of live in-person and virtual classes every month, along with opportunities to improve social engagement and engage in virtual learning. I am proud and thankful for our members, instructors, partners and colleagues who have helped us to become the trusted leader in senior fitness."

SilverSneakers was founded by Mary Swanson, whose father served as the inspiration for the nationally recognized fitness program. After Mary's father survived a heart attack at age 51, he vowed to improve his health and quality of life with regular physical activity. Mary recognized the need for a formalized exercise class designed specifically for older adults, and in 1992, the first SilverSneakers class launched in Arizona.

The program has evolved over the years and now offers classes for every fitness level. Whether in the gym or the comfort of home, members have access to a network of more than 23,000 fitness locations nationwide including community FLEX fitness locations; a network of 13,000 live virtual, instructor-led classes each month; and access to a digital curriculum of 300 classes on-demand.

"Our Silver SilverSneakers fitness benefits make it easy and affordable for UPMC for Life Medicare Advantage members to stay active and focus on their wellness," said Angela Perri, CMO for UPMC Health Plan. "With free, unlimited memberships to local participating fitness centers, our members can take advantage of so many benefits including access to trained instructors, amenities such as swimming pools, SilverSneakers On-Demand workout videos, and many more."

SilverSneakers members can also enjoy the benefits of two new innovative partnerships launched this year to go beyond fitness and increase mental enrichment and social connectivity:

  • Stitch, the world's largest social community helps older adults create enriching social connections by offering an opportunity to connect around shared interests (e.g., book club, travel) through a hybrid approach of online and in-person activities.

  • GetSetUp, a virtual learning platform, designed specifically to provide mental enrichment activities for seniors, offering a wide range of online classes through a video platform optimized for ease of activation, user engagement and social connection.

To follow and be a part of the SilverSneakers 30th celebration, visit SilverSneakers30.com, Facebook @SilverSneakers and Instagram @SilverSneakers.

Read the original press release.