YMCA strategies to promote healthy aging through evidence-based programming: The case for EnhanceFitness

With a commitment to improving health and wellness in the 10,000 U.S. communities it serves, the Y is actively addressing the chronic disease epidemic and aging of the population. The chronic disease arthritis remains the nation’s leading cause of disability and affects 52.5 million Americans. This includes about half of all adults over the age of 65; a demographic expected to double in size over the next 25 years. Low-impact physical activity mitigates arthritis symptoms and can delay disability, but most adults with arthritis report being physically inactive. To address the arthritis burden and need for increased physical activity among older adults, the Y’s national resource office, the YMCA of the USA (YUSA), partnered with Senior Services, Inc. to make the EnhanceFitness exercise program for older adults available to Ys across the country. EnhanceFitness was selected due to its strong evidence base, natural alignment with the Y’s organizational strengths, and favorable licensing agreement. It has been integrated into YUSA’s portfolio of tertiary chronic disease prevention programs and is promoted to local Ys as an arthritis and healthy aging intervention. Due to the Y’s federated structure, YUSA cannot mandate implementation of specific program models, but encourages and facilitates local Y adoption by demonstrating value and removing implementation barriers. In addition to partnership with researchers at the University of Washington, YUSA regularly assesses program implementation and refines efforts using quality improvement strategies. Successful dissemination of EnhanceFitness through the Y could lead to improved arthritis management and decreased disability on a national scale.