Fitness specialist Jill Strandberg helps seniors ‘move and feel strong’ at Elmhurst retirement community – Shaw Local – USFTB

After a serious fall about five years ago, 99-year-old Josie Heard, a resident of Elmhurst’s The Roosevelt at Salt Creek, adopted a “move or lose it” philosophy as part of her recovery.

“I don’t believe in staying in my apartment,” Heard said.

Now she heads to the community’s fitness center several times a week and often encourages other residents to come and try it out.

There she meets with Jill Strandberg, a senior fitness specialist, who is on hand three times a week for three hours each time, something she has done at the senior living community since 2007.

Strandberg assists residents with their individualized fitness routine, offering tips and motivation. She coordinates residents between machines, weights and other fitness equipment.

“It is a group setting, but it is individualized exercises,” Strandberg said.

“I have a love for these seniors. They inspire me. They motivate me,” she added.

“It is so important to move and feel strong,” Strandberg said. “It is not just the physical aspect of it. The social aspect and also the reward of doing something positive for yourself and not becoming sedentary.”

When Strandberg began working with seniors, she was concerned she “would break them.”

Along the way, however, she learned that “they move, they just move differently.”

Strandberg “figures out how each individual is moving and goes from there,” she said.

“We all have strengths and weaknesses and that is where we start. We all have goals and when you are in your 90s that may mean staying mobile and maintaining what you have,” she said.

“You are not going to run a marathon. But you want to get up and move and be independent,” she said.

Having gone to physical therapy for many years, Roosevelt resident Sandra Seier credited Strandberg for her approach to working with seniors.

“I know what I need to do and I don’t need someone to count for me,” Seier said. “Jill starts me with something and goes and helps someone else, and then she comes back and helps me with what I need to do next.”

And if someone comes in with something that is bothering them, Strandberg will know how to help, she said.

“Sometimes, I get tired and don’t feel like exercising,” Seier said. “Jill makes me try hard.”

Fellow resident Louise Sage said Strandberg takes a personalized approach with the seniors.

“Jill is really interested in what is bothering you and how to fix it,” Sage said.

“I came for strength training and balance, and I am still working on it,” she said.

Sage said she comes to the fitness center two times a week to work with Strandberg. On Mondays, she attends a water aerobics class.

Strandberg has taught class members how to work out on their own if they’re unable to attend her class.

“At this stage, a realistic goal is maintaining what you got,” Strandberg said.

“Some seniors have this misconception that it is all about building muscle and looking better,” she said. “It is about staying moving.”

“It has been proven that exercise releases endorphins that make us feel happy, and feeling proud and good about ourselves makes us want to do it again,” Strandberg said.