Life+, The Wellness Initiative Program, at Episcopal Homes of Minnesota
Episcopal Homes of Minnesota encourages community members to engage in a healthy, active lifestyle through the aging process.
Life+ was developed for active older adults to experience all six levels of wellness. The six levels of wellness are social, emotional, intellectual, spiritual, physical, and vocational. Our wellness team works to find the right balance of all six dimensions and to maximize quality of life, resulting in a higher state of wellbeing for those we serve.
The Director of Life+, Julie Niewald, developed this program to encourage, guide and support active older adults through the aging process. Julie Niewald (Director of Life+) launched the Life+ Wellness Initiative Program in the fall of 2014. Since the start of Life+, the program has grown tremendously because of the opening of our brand new amenities.
Father Jogues, a Seabury resident at Episcopal Homes is impressed by the Life+ team. “Mary has the skills to motivate the learner,” said Father Jogues. Father Jogues has been using the new Fitness Center since the first week. “In addition to prayer and meditation, routinely exercising feeds the spirit,” Father Jogues exclaimed!
We have a brand new Fitness Center, Warm Water Therapy Pool, Meditation / Art Room, Media Center, 25-Seat Movie Theater, and Motion Wellness Center.
These new amenities welcome new experiences for active older adults in our communities on campus.
Life+ Fitness Specialist, Mary Hopp says, “The brand new Fitness Center at Episcopal Homes’ has equipment that tracks seniors progress within their own individualized set goals. Every day I come to work, I see the confidence grow within seniors as they start meeting their personalized goals; it’s amazing.”
Wednesday, May 27th, was the 22nd Annual Celebration of National Senior Fitness Day. The Life+ team celebrated the event by preparing healthy snacks and water for every resident that participated in Life+ activities throughout the day. The Life+ team set up a Water Volleyball game in the Warm Water Therapy Pool, and it was a splash!