Chicago Fitness Plus

The Chicago Department of Senior Services (CDoSS) and Alliance Rehab, Inc. have created an award winning fitness program as an aggressive counter to the acceptance by many seniors that a decline in functional ability and physical health are unavoidable consequences of aging. The program is fun, affordable and accessible, and concentrates on the key components to a healthy and independent lifestyle: endurance, strength, balance and flexibility. CDoSS senior centers are equipped with senior friendly exercise equipment and staffed by experienced, Certified Senior FITness Professionals who lead group exercise classes and can customize training programs for seniors based on their own individual goals.

The overall program goal is the maintenance of a physically active lifestyle, in order to optimize one's functional capacity and ability to perform daily activities. In order to achieve this goal, the following impact objectives were established:

- Enhance enjoyment and participation in a variety of physical activities
- Develop and enhance the skills, knowledge, and self-efficacy needed to
establish and maintain an active lifestyle
- Ensure the affordability and accessibility of the program

The City of Chicago has achieved a number of outcomes to date including:

Growth and Utilization:
- A constant 15-20% annual program participant growth rate over the last
three years;
- 58 program delivery sites;
- 8300 total program participants;
- 406 exercise classes per month average; and
- 1,037 personal training sessions per month average.

Fitness Outcomes:
- 22% increase in lower extremity muscle strength (over 12 weeks training);
- 36% increase in upper back muscle strength (over 12 weeks training);
- 33% increase in chest muscle strength (over 12 weeks training); and
- 30% increase in biceps femoris muscle strength (over 12 weeks training).

CDoSS's Fitness Program is a NCoA 10 Best Practices Program and a AoA Program Champion!