December 6, 2007

Senior Benefits: Mercy Silver Advantage Promotes Health, Wellness and Fun

Siouxland area residents over the age of 50 are invited to sign up for Mercy Silver Advantage, a popular health and wellness program offered by Mercy Medical Center—Sioux City.

There are no membership fees, yet Silver Advantage members can reap a broad variety of benefits including free or low-cost health education programs and other activities.

“Silver Advantage is designed to help older adults better understand personal health issues,” said Teresa Ernst, coordinator of the program.  “We provide members opportunities to promote their own good health, independence and well-being.”

“Being better informed about your health is the key to feeling your best and enjoying an active lifestyle.  For that reason, our program seeks to keep people over the age of 50 informed on the status of their health through regular screenings.  We also offer health education programs which assist our members in preventing and identifying specific health problems,” Ernst added.

Silver Advantage members receive a quarterly newsletter that keeps them informed on timely issues of interest to seniors.  The publication also outlines the many classes, events and activities available for members.

Upcoming classes include a Feb. 12 program on HDTV, and a Mar. 14 session on “Practical Ways to Improve Your Memory.”

Mercy Silver Advantage members can also enroll in computer classes, which are held periodically at Mercy.   Those sessions help seniors make better use of the Internet, or give them useful info for using programs like Microsoft Word and Excel for home, health and personal business.  Upcoming April classes will focus on “Maintaining and Protecting Your PC.”

Another popular Silver Advantage class is Fitness After Fifty for those interested in getting fit, increasing their metabolism, and building muscle mass.  Class participants get together for a variety of physical fitness activities including stretching, walking, and weight training.

Membership in Mercy Silver Advantage isn’t all business, however.  Knowing that having fun and making new friends is an important part of wellness and healthful living, Mercy also schedules social activities and events for Silver Advantage members.  Popular events include holiday parties, tours and entertainment. 

“Anyone interested in protecting or improving his or her own health will find that Mercy Silver Advantage offers a variety of programs and services to fit everyone’s own unique interests,” Ernst said.  “Our members can pick and choose from the programs that interest them.”

Silver Advantage members are even entitled to a discount at Mercy’s Kaleidoscope Gift Shop.

For more information about the Mercy Silver Advantage program, call Teresa Ernst at (712) 279-2177, or visit the hospital’s web site at www.mercysiouxcity.com and click on “Older Adult Services.”