PLANO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--In its fifth consecutive year, the nationwide WALK! with Aegis Therapies senior wellness event will feature two nationally-recognized fitness and wellness experts, Chris Freytag and Mitzi Dulan, America’s Nutrition Expert®, to lead a series of activities among our nation’s senior population in Miami and the greater Minneapolis and Kansas City areas.
The five-day event, that runs Monday, Sept. 23 through Friday, Sept. 27, will feature wellness activities in more than 700 locations where Aegis Therapies provides rehabilitation services. The WALK! with Aegis Therapies event is jointly presented by the EnerG™ by Aegis wellness program and the International Council on Active Aging® (ICAA) in support of ICAA’s annual Active Aging Week®.
In addition to Chris and Mitzi’s participation, Golden Living, a leader in post-acute healthcare services including Aegis Therapies, lends its Executive Chef and Director of Dining and Hospitality, Darin Leonardson, to the program to motivate participants by providing antioxidant smoothies and recipes after a series of activities throughout the week in senior communities in Georgia, Alabama, Kentucky, and California.
“The WALK! with Aegis Therapies 2013 event, along with the participation of Chris, Mitzi, and Darin, are committed to the collective goal to care for our nation’s aging population to support community awareness, and reinforce the importance of being active and healthy at any age,” said Martha Schram, President of Aegis Therapies. “The event continues to grow each year and involves thousands of people from independent living facilities, assisted living facilities, continuing care retirement communities, home care and hospice, and skilled nursing facilities.”
Each location organizes a series of 15- to 30-minute daily walking sessions and an event that supports a different dimension of wellness each day: physical, intellectual, occupational, emotional, social, spiritual, and environmental; which is a new dimension to the program this year. This award-winning program attracts senior patients, even centenarians, their families, facility staff, and community members with a week of scheduled events to celebrate health and wellness.
“Older adults bring years of experience and knowledge to their communities, along with an attitude of caring and friendship,” explains Colin Milner, CEO of International Council on Active Aging. “The active-aging philosophy celebrates older adults as full participants in the cultural, civic and personal areas of life. Active Aging Week is the time to appreciate their accomplishments on a national scale, while providing many opportunities to learn more about healthy, active living.”
Schedule of Events:
Monday will feature Chris Freytag kicking off the WALK! with Aegis Therapies events at Good Samaritan Society – Ambassador in New Hope, Minn. and Golden LivingCenter – Hillcrest of Wayzata in Wayzata, Minn. Darin Leonardson will perform a cooking demonstration in events at Golden LivingCenter – Glenwood in Decatur, Ga. and at Golden LivingCenter – Augusta in Augusta, Ga., where State Senator Hardie Davis is expected to attend.
Tuesday will feature Darin presenting healthy dishes and a cooking demonstration at the WALK! with Aegis Therapies at Golden LivingCenter – Riverchase in Birmingham, Ala.
Wednesday will feature Chris Freytag leading WALK! with Aegis Therapies events at Miami Jewish Health Systems in Miami. Darin will present healthy dishes and smoothies in the greater Louisville, Ky. and Frankfort, Ky. areas at Golden LivingCenter – Mount Holly and Golden LivingCenter – Frankfort, where State Representative Derrick Graham is expected to attend.
Thursday will feature Mitzi Dulan leading WALK! with Aegis Therapies events at Golden LivingCenter – Independence where State Senator, Paul LeVota, is expected to attend, and Monterey Park Nursing Center, both in Independence, Mo. just outside of Kansas City, Mo.
Friday will feature Darin Leonardson making tasty recipes and presenting a tasting panel of new dishes at Golden LivingCenter – Fresno and Golden LivingCenter – Hy-Lond in Fresno, Calif.
About the Talent
Mitzi Dulan is America’s Nutrition Expert®, who is an author, speaker, and nutrition spokesperson. She is the team nutritionist for the Kansas City Royals and has consulted with many other professional sports teams in the baseball, football, basketball, and hockey leagues. She is a frequent guest and source of trusted nutrition and wellness information for television shows and news channels. She is followed by millions online and enjoys staying active.
Chris Freytag holds the titles of certified group fitness instructor, personal trainer, weight management coach, published author, and speaker. Her high energy and dynamic personality led to national media appearances in “Success” magazine, on “The Today Show,” and as a regular healthy lifestyle guest on QVC.
Darin Leonardson brings 20 years of culinary and hospitality experience to the table. He joined Golden Living from One Eighty, the parent company of Leisure Care Retirement Communities, where he was the corporate food and beverage manager for 38 Leisure Care properties globally. Previously, Leonardson worked for Google as a general manager and executive chef overseeing the dining rooms of five Google offices, where he began composting corporate wide and started on-site vegetable and herb gardens.
About Aegis Therapies (www.aegistherapies.com)
Aegis Therapies is one of the largest and most successful contract rehabilitation companies in the country, with operations at more than 1,000 locations in 40 states and the District of Columbia, and more than 7,000 employees. Aegis specializes in therapy that is needed by nursing home, assisted living, or home-bound patients with medically complex conditions. Aegis programs are structured around an older-adult Model of Care, and include Freedom Through Functionality, a strength-training program featuring specially modified Nautilus equipment. Aegis has invested in the infrastructure, employee support, and training to effectively measure and quantify therapy impact. The focus on positive, measurable outcomes and clinical excellence helps older patients achieve more independence through physical, occupational, and speech therapy.
About the International Council on Active Aging® (ICAA) (www.icaa.cc)
ICAA, a professional association that leads, connects, and defines the active-aging industry. ICAA supports professionals who develop wellness facilities, programs, and services for adults over 50. The association is focused on active aging — an approach to aging that helps older adults live life as fully as possible within all dimensions of wellness — and provides its members with education, information, resources, and tools.
About Golden Living (www.goldenliving.com)
Golden Living is a family of companies that specialize in recovery care. Its mission is to help people recover health and improve quality of life through a network of healthcare services, including rehab, assisted living, skilled nursing care, pharmacy, and hospice. The Golden Living family of companies include Golden LivingCenters, Aegis Therapies, AseraCare, and 360 Healthcare Staffing. There are more than 300 Golden LivingCenters in 21 states. Golden Living also offers assisted living services at more than 30 locations. In addition, the Golden Living companies provide services to more than 1,000 nursing homes, hospitals and other healthcare organizations in 40 states and the District of Columbia. Collectively, the Golden Living family of companies has more than 42,000 employees who provide quality healthcare to more than 60,000 patients every day.
