There are so many benefits to even the simplest forms of movement—walking, stretching, and other types of gentle exercise can lower blood pressure, improve circulation, boost your immune system, and much more.
To reap the many benefits of movement, The Birches Assisted Living in Clarendon Hills is celebrating “Move to Wellness” month throughout May. The program is based on the Masterpiece Living program “Walk to Wellness,” which The Birches has adapted to include those who are unable to walk.
During the month of May, The Birches is encouraging residents and associates to move their way toward better health by incorporating gentle forms of exercise into their daily routine. The Birches is urging associates and residents to walk together, and has created a resident-associate buddy system in which associates sign-up to take residents on a short walk daily.
Find out what's happening in Hinsdale-Clarendon Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Birches is also asking that residents and associates track their steps and has posted signs around the building with pre-counted steps to indicate how much they have walked. Those with smartphones are encouraged to download an app called “Pacer” which tracks your steps and the amount of calories burned.
To share the program’s benefits with the greater community, The Birches is teaming up with The Hinsdale Community House to host a shoe drive for the “Share Your Soles” project which provides shoes to people around the world who have never owned them. Monetary donations will also be collected for “Walk a Mile in Her Shoes,” an organization dedicated to increasing awareness about sexual violence.
Find out what's happening in Hinsdale-Clarendon Hillswith free, real-time updates from Patch.
The Birches is eager to promote walking and moving during the month of May in the hopes that the positive lifestyle changes will last throughout the rest of the year. Birches associates and residents are encouraged to work toward their health goals and are provided with a pledge board to record their goals and walking logs to keep track of the minutes or miles they’ve walked. Now is the perfect time for everyone to walk and move with an important purpose—a purpose of living a longer, healthier, and happier life.
