Finlandia launches gym aimed at older adults

A gym that offers free memberships to all seniors in Sudbury officially launched on Saturday, along with a $450,000 fundraising campaign to fully equip the facility with exercise equipment geared toward older adults.

The Seniors Fitness and Wellness Centre is located in Finlandia Village, and anyone in Sudbury aged 55 and older can receive a lifetime membership for $20 – an administration fee that goes to pay the cost of insurance for the facility.

David Munch, Finlandia's CEO, told the crowd Finlandia has promoted healthy activity for a long time.

"Some of you may be aware, we have a therapeutic pool just across the hall,” Munch said. “This pool has been a community pool for the last 25 years for people to come in an exercise, be healthy and live long. Even as we speak, there's pool volleyball going on with some of our residents.

"We want to encourage more of these activities, get people in this gym that we're promoting here today and for people to live long and stay strong."

With the growing number of seniors in Sudbury, he said more of them want to ensure they remain as healthy and active as possible in their golden years.

"Now that people in our community are getting older, they want to work out in a safe and comfortable environment ... They want to come to an area where they feel comfortable," he said.

The gym feature some specialized equipment geared toward not only older adults, but individuals who may have special workout requirements.

"The way I would characterize this exercise equipment is that it's smart equipment,” Munch said. “What do I mean by smart? It knows who you are.

"Say for example, you've had a stroke on your left hand side, but your right hand side is fine. The machines can be calibrated to give you negative resistance on your stroke side, and positive resident on your good side -- with the whole goal of getting you back to equilibrium. That's one big thing we can do for people as we age in place."

And the machines can keep track of your workouts and make changes as you get stronger, adjusting workouts for individuals as the progress.

Louise Paquette, CEO of the Northeast Local Health Integration Network, said she's impressed by how officials at Finlandia are able to realize the goals they set.

"As CEO of the Northeast LHIN I can tell you, lots of people have lots of ideas, but they lack in implementation," Paquette said.

"What's impressive here ... you can see people understand the importance of making it real. Because as we age, we need to exercise, exercise, exercise. That's the trick. What Finlandia is doing now is making that real for the people in Finlandia."

Jimmy Krats, president of Finlandia's board of directors, said Saturday's event was the start of the fundraising drive to pay for upgrades to exercise room, change room, sauna and pool. The goal is to have the work done by this summer.

"Some of these upgrades have already taken place -- for example, the floor has been rubberized ... so it's good for your feet and helps ensure people don't slip," Krats said.

"Our goal is to ensure this room is fully equipped to meet the fitness needs of all our seniors."

Gerry Lougheed Jr., chair of Finlandia's charitable foundation, said his New Year's resolution was to get more fit.

"It's a life or death resolution for me, I must tell you that,” Lougheed said. “As an undertaker, I understand mortality better than anybody else."

He said an example of what lifelong exercise can achieve is Hidekichi Miyazaki, the world record holder for seniors in the 100m sprint.

"Do you know how old he is? 105 years old, and he does the 100 metres in 42 seconds."

He said Finlandia has long been an example for others when it comes to helping people age with sound mind and body.

"A number of years ago, I had the opportunity to sit on the Prime Minister's National Forum on Health, and we looked at aging populations from coast to coast to coast,” Lougheed said. “And the property they said the rest of Canada should replicate is the one we're standing in right now ... We are the best, not just in our community, but the best in the country.

"When you come here, you're going to rejuvenate your body, you're going to stimulate your mind and you're going to inspire your spirit with goodness and good fitness."

For more information on the facility, call 705-524-3137, or go to http://www.finlandiafitness.com/