MILTON — A program that helps keep those in their golden years moving recently marked three decades, with the YMCA of Milton joining in the national celebration.
Silver Sneakers is offered at more than 23,000 fitness centers nationwide, offering free programs for seniors. The Milton YMCA is one of the participating entities.
Milton YMCA general manager Ron Marshall said the program was launched in October 1992 for seniors of all fitness levels.
The YMCA recently marked the anniversary during one of its Silver Sneakers classes.
“This year, Silver Sneakers celebrates 30 incredible years of understanding the needs and fitness trends of seniors,” Marshall said. “One of the valuable things I’ve learned about this program is that Silver Sneakers is a brand that our Y members really trust and recommend.”
He noted that the Y offers “a lot of great courses.”
“Our instructors do a great job and our members enjoy their time at the Milton YMCA,” said Marshall. “If you get the chance, stop by and see what we have to offer.”
He also provided a list of facts and national milestones regarding Silver Sneakers.
• In 2004, Silver Sneakers grew from 15 partners in a dozen states to 41 partners in 29 states.
• From 2006 to 2008, the program developed a partnership with Medicare Advantage plans and successfully grew from 1,000 to over 10,000 fitness centers.
• In 2013, Silver Sneakers reached over 10 million eligible members and 50 million visits.
• In 2015, the Silver Sneakers FLEX community, which offers more than 80 types of classes in locations such as community centers and parks, reached 1 million visits just two years after its initial launch.
• In 2018, Silver Sneakers surpassed 100 million in-person visits.
• Silver Sneakers began offering live virtual classes with an instructor in 2020 and has since logged millions of virtual visits.
• In 2021, Tivity Health announced that participating Medicare Advantage plans would have access to a customizable network of more than 23,000 fitness centers.
• In 2022, Tivity Health continues to expand its virtual offerings to include fitness, social connection and mental enrichment.
