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UPMC for Life Is Pennsylvania Sponsor for National Senior Health and Fitness Day Event scheduled for Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium for May 26
PITTSBURGH (May 26, 2010) — For the fourth consecutive year, UPMC for Life, the Medicare product of UPMC Health Plan, is the Pennsylvania state sponsor for the 17th annual National Senior Health and Fitness Day.
On National Senior Health and Fitness Day, which is scheduled for May 26, 2010, UPMC for Life will serve as host for three events in Pennsylvania, including one at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium. Nationally, more than 100,000 older adults are expected to participate at local events at more than 1,000 locations across the country on the same day.
“UPMC Health Plan is proud to serve once again as the Pennsylvania state sponsor for National Senior Health and Fitness Day,” said Diane P. Holder, President and CEO, UPMC Health Plan. “Our sponsorship reinforces our commitment to helping our members to keep active and fit, regardless of age.”
The goals of National Senior Health and Fitness Day are to promote the importance of regular physical activity, and to showcase what local organizations are doing to improve the health and fitness of older adults in their communities.
In Pittsburgh, the event will be held at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium from 10 a.m. to
1 p.m. Included among the fitness activities for older adults that day will be an exercise session of “zumba” conducted by a team of fitness experts at 11 a.m.
KDKA-TV personality, Jon Burnett, will serve as emcees for this event, which also features representatives from America On the Move in Pittsburgh, health screenings, and health information workshops. UPMC for Life members will be admitted to the event at no charge. Members are also entitled to bring one Medicare-eligible guest. The guest must bring his or her Medicare card.
“According to the National Institute on Aging, elderly people who are physically active are more likely to live longer, healthier lives than those who are not physically active,” said Cynthia Napier Rosenberg, MD, Senior Medical Director for UPMC Health Plan. ”Inactivity can weaken muscles. Exercise can help maintain and improve balance, agility and posture.”
National Senior Health & Fitness Day is a nationwide health and fitness event for older adults, always held the last Wednesday in May during Older Americans Month. 2010 will mark the 17th year of the program, and more than 100,000 older adults will participate at local events at more than 1,000 locations across the country on the same day.. What Will Older Adults Do On This Day?Local organizations throughout the country will host senior-related health and fitness events at retirement communities, health clubs, senior centers, park districts, hospitals, YMCAs, houses of worship, banks and other community locations.The local health and fitness activities will vary widely based on the organization hosting the event and the interests of local seniors. Activities will be non-competitive and may include walking events, low-impact exercises, health screenings and health information workshops. How Can
In Pittsburgh, the event will be held at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium from 10 a.m. to
1 p.m. Included among the fitness activities for older adults that day will be an exercise session conducted by a team of fitness experts from “Leslie Sansone’s In-Home Walking Program” at
11 a.m.
KDKA-TV personality, Jon Burnett, will serve as emcees for this event, which also features representatives from America On the Move in Pittsburgh, health screenings, and health information workshops. UPMC for Life members will be admitted to the event at no charge. Members are also entitled to bring one Medicare-eligible guest. The guest must bring his or her Medicare card.
“According to the National Institute on Aging, elderly people who are physically active are more likely to live longer, healthier lives than those who are not physically active,” said Cynthia Napier Rosenberg, MD, Senior Medical Director for UPMC Health Plan. ”Inactivity can weaken muscles. Exercise can help maintain and improve balance, agility and posture.”
In Erie, UPMC for Life is sponsoring a free event at Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine’s (LECOM) Medical Fitness and Wellness Center at 8:30 a.m. A variety of fitness-related activities will be offered, including Tai Chi and Zumba exercise classes. Participants can also take a walking tour of the new LECOM facility.
In Altoona, UPMC for Life is sponsoring an event in conjunction with Blair County Senior Services on the campus of Penn State Altoona, starting at 10 a.m. Participants can enjoy a light lunch courtesy of Blair County Senior Services and an organized walk around the Penn State Altoona campus.
UPMC for Life is available in 25 Pennsylvania counties including Allegheny, Beaver, Blair, Butler, Armstrong, Erie, Westmoreland, and Washington.
About UPMC Health Plan
UPMC Health Plan, the second-largest health insurer in Western Pennsylvania, is owned by the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC), one of the nation's top-ranked health systems. The integrated partner companies of the UPMC Insurance Services Division – which includes UPMC Health Plan, UPMC Work Partners, LifeSolutions (EAP), UPMC for You (Medical Assistance), and Community Care Behavioral Health – offer a full range of group health insurance, Medicare, CHIP, Medical Assistance, behavioral health, employee assistance, and workers' compensation products and services to nearly 1.2 million members. Our local provider network includes UPMC as well as community providers, totaling more than 80 hospitals and more than 7,600 physicians in Western Pennsylvania. For more information, visit upmchealthplan.com.
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