Lifelong Vitality Initiative
A lot of big changes are happening along the north side of the main HaysMed campus, and even more are on the way! If you’ve driven by lately, you’ve seen the Bob and Pat Schmidt Community Center which will be the new home for the Hays Senior Center, multi-use community rooms, and a childcare center. The community center is part of The Grove which will also include a housing development designed to help address the ongoing housing shortage in Ellis County especially for seniors. The land for the new community center was donated by HaysMed to Grow Hays. “The Grove will create much-needed housing for our community. The location, and its proximity to our facilities, will provide easy access for associates, patients, and all who choose to live there,” said HaysMed CEO Eddie Herrman.
The location of this new community center and housing development near the HaysMed Fitness Trail offers a unique opportunity that Stephanie Howie, Fitness Director of The Center for Health Improvement (CHI) in the HaysMed Bickle/Eagle Health Complex, thought was just too good to pass up. Plans are in the works for a new, nearly $1 million CHI initiative called Lifelong Vitality.
A 2022 study published in the International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity* found that as adults age, overall physical activity promotion correlated to significantly reduced incidence of falls, increased social outcomes, capacity to perform daily tasks, physical function, and socialization. In short, promoting healthy activity helps people not only live longer, but improves their quality of life, mental health, and ability to live independently as well. Rural communities that provide activity and socialization opportunities for all their residents demonstrate a commitment to the health and well-being of the population across a lifespan. Lifelong Vitality is an opportunity to provide the tools, space, and programming to build on the mission of improving the health of those in our northwestern Kansas community.
The physical improvements of Lifelong Vitality will adapt the CHI to a multigenerational, indoor/outdoor fitness experience that not only addresses the physical health needs of individuals across the lifespan but also provides the tools to incorporate interactive fitness and wellness programs suitable for all ages to experience together, improving overall quality of life. The prominent feature will be an outdoor, publicly accessible, 25,000 sq ft area featuring artificial turf, shade structures, accessible outdoor fitness equipment, agility, yoga, and stretching areas built to encourage fitness by providing access to these tools to anyone at any time.
More than half of the nearly $1 million has been raised, and the HaysMed Foundation is seeking additional support to bring this vision to fruition. Contact us to become involved in this unique offering to our community or donate online now.
*Pinheiro, M.B., Oliveira, J.S., Baldwin, J.N. et al. Impact of physical activity programs and services for older adults: a rapid review. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 19, 87 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12966-022-01318-9