August 27, 2024August 27, 2024 by Brianna Giruzzi, OTR/L

How to Run Wellness Classes for Older Adults

Are you an occupational therapist or COTA working with older adults and considering starting your own wellness classes? If so, this article is just for you!

This is tailored to therapists working in an established organization and may not apply to OTs that run their own business, but it can still give you plenty of resources and reasons why you should run your own wellness classes for older adults.

Why Older Adult Wellness is Important

The older adult population has had record-setting growth in recent years. In 2020, about 1 in 6 people in the United States were age 65 and older. As life expectancy continues to grow, there is concern about whether those added years will be healthy or unhealthy.

Some problems that are unique to this age group are: increased number of falls and associated injuries, increased hospitalizations for pneumonia, and increased risk for chronic health conditions like osteoporosis, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Older adults who don’t get enough physical activity are more likely to develop a disability or to fall. Research has shown that physical activity is linked to better health, and could even help to delay age-related cognitive impairment.

The goal of occupational therapy (OT) is to promote health and wellness for all ages. Occupational therapists (OTs) are excellent candidates to educate the community and instruct individuals about wellness. In this article, “wellness” will include physical, lifestyle, and cognitive areas.

Appropriate Settings for Wellness Classes for Older Adults

Occupational therapists can run classes at their workplace or within the community. A class can be a one-time presentation or a regular occurrence. Therapists that currently work with older adults may have an easier time getting started.

These OTs will already know the problem areas for older adults, and will have access to helpful staff. They may be working in places like:

Skilled nursing facilities
Assisted living facilities
Independent senior living centers
Home health care
Outpatient clinics

You should ask your supervisor about any classes your organization currently offers. Many hospitals and rehab units have support groups and educational in-services. If you cannot join any of those, you will have to get permission to host your own.

If you have the expertise to run your own wellness class outside of work, you can reach out to your local community centers. Many public venues host wellness events, and you can check their calendars and websites to find out more. Appropriate places to start networking with can be:

Libraries
Fitness centers
Senior centers
Adult day programs

You can also obtain additional training from wellness organizations, like Silver Sneakers, American Council on Exercise, or the Aquatic Exercise Association.

Precautions and Preparation

There are some basics you will need to run an effective group class. The topic of the class will determine what supplies you need, but most classes are successful with chairs, simple workout equipment, and paper handouts. You will need a private space and, of course, people!

You will need an ethical way to advertise and find participants. You should have the full support of the location in which you are hosting the class. You must be careful not to operate in ways that could be seen as solicitation. You (and your company if you are sponsored by one) must be clear about the purpose of the group. The purpose is usually educational. A wellness group is not a place to sell products or promote specific services.

Not all workplaces will allow public classes. You may only be allowed to work with the existing clients of your facility. Your wellness class must be separate and distinct from the therapy you provide under your OT license.

The purpose of a presentation is to promote wellness by using reliable research, not to provide clinical interventions. You will, however, be using your own clinical experience to help provide insight and value.

Ethical Considerations

As an OT, you must uphold your professional code of ethics with any service you provide. This means that any education you offer should be research-based, safe, and generalized for a wide audience.

You must be careful not to give any medical recommendations to someone who is not your patient. AOTA’s ethical guidelines apply to both professional and volunteer roles, and your class will likely be on a volunteer basis.

You will not be formally evaluating the participants. They are free agents choosing to attend your class. To protect yourself, your company, and the participants, you may want to require some onboarding steps.

Two things you can require are a doctor’s clearance to attend and a participation waiver to be signed. You can also consider obtaining or expanding your malpractice insurance. Classes are meant to be fun and helpful, but you must also uphold professional responsibility.

Once onboarding has been completed, you will have to ensure safety for the duration of the class. This means having adequate supervision for the number of attendees, proper cleaning solutions, and a first aid kit. Be aware of everyone’s health status, taking into consideration things like canes, walkers, oxygen tanks, poor balance, low vision, etc.

Finding Relevant Topics

If you have the freedom to select your own presentation topics, you have some options on where to find them. The most person-centered thing to do is ask your audience directly. If allowed, you can collect a simple survey from facility residents, caregivers, or local community members. Let them choose what they want to learn about.

If you have to find your own topic, you can browse the blogs of relevant organizations like: AOTA, AARP, CDC, or NIH. Many hospital systems and universities will also post information about older adult wellness. Your topic will hopefully be satisfying a need or answering a question (like, how to prevent physical decline, why you should improve your health, or how to manage a condition).

Setting Up

In some settings, you can collect an early sign-up sheet for people interested in your class. This gives you an idea of how many supplies to bring, how to set the room up, and how to tailor your communication style. It can also help prove to your supervisors that the class is important and worth funding.

The cost of running a class will vary. It is based on what you have available to you, how supportive your setting is, and how you’d like to conduct the class. Most presenters will need a computer, projector, and a microphone.

A conversational class with chairs arranged in a circle does not need any additional funding or technology. You might be able to host a virtual class, where no location is needed. It is not a priority to provide food or gifts, and these types of “freebies” can actually be inappropriate.

Interacting with the Wellness Class

Make sure to provide your name, title, and professional contact information. You could bring business cards or flyers from your organization. If you are not the one handling follow-up questions, make sure to point people in the right direction (like to the front desk, your rehab director, or the community center).

To determine how much assistance to give during activities, refer to your company policies, a professional mentor, or the group’s caregivers. Safety is the top priority, but you also don’t want to treat the attendees like children. Your class waiver or your specific setting will dictate how much physical assistance you can provide.

Use your judgment about how to upgrade or downgrade activities based on the scope of the class. If the topic is on chair stretches, don’t challenge the higher-functioning attendees with bonus standing stretches. Let all attendees feel welcome and capable.

On the Day of Class

Try your best to arrive early on the day of your wellness class. You may have to rearrange the room or relocate due to an unexpected issue. Scan the room for any trip hazards and address them promptly.

If people will be signing themselves in, make a sheet that is well-suited for many abilities. Use large print, easy-grip writing utensils, bright lighting, and a firm surface.

Arrange the chairs with enough personal space in between for hygiene, exercise, and navigation. Be sure to follow the infectious disease protocols in your building or in your town.

You should have a plan in place to handle accidents, especially for balance classes. Know which departments to report to. Keep a phone in the room to call for help. Obtaining an emergency contact for all participants is also helpful.

Running the Class

Greet attendees as they arrive and direct them where to sit, if needed. Wear your nametag, especially if you’re in a new setting. Begin class at the advertised time, or no later than 5 to 10 minutes after. You may find you have to delay if many people are coming in late or taking a while to settle in.

Take attendance early in case people leave before class is over. It’s important to have a record of names in the event of an emergency. It may be helpful in some settings to collect contact information so you can seek feedback in the future or make corrections.

Position yourself in the room where everyone can see and hear you best. Some clinics will have extra technology to use for hearing and vision impairments. After you introduce yourself, you could let the group speak or do a social icebreaker. Explain the wellness topic and your planned schedule.

Leave time for questions both during and after the presentation. Check in with the group periodically to make sure they can still hear you and understand the topic. If you are running an exercise class, leave time for rest and water breaks. Monitor the time as you go along. A realistic class length is 30 to 60 minutes.

Try to end class at the advertised time in order to be respectful, even if you have more to say. Discuss a quick summary of what the group has learned. Remind attendees of the next scheduled class. If it was a one-time session, remind them where to go for future questions and concerns.

Wellness Class Topic Ideas for Older Adults

These points of interest can be turned into a presentation or a group activity. They all have an underlying OT focus, but can be modified to suit any need.

Fine Motor:

Morning exercises to reduce finger stiffness, devices for hand arthritis, how to improve dexterity, equipment to help with dressing, board games that challenge fine motor skills, grip and pinch strength kits

Safety:

Protecting your skin with sensation loss, community mobility tips (curbs, steps, car transfers), identifying household hazards, how exercise can improve balance, staying warm and active in colder weather, tips for walker safety (proper height and correct usage), how to prepare for a joint replacement

Health Management:

How to reduce risk of carpal tunnel syndrome, body mechanics for back pain, energy conservation during chores, how exercise helps with diabetes, proper footwear, the scope of practice for each healthcare provider (physical therapy versus occupational therapy), sleep hygiene, what is a trigger finger

Cognition:

How exercising helps mental health, tips for managing forgetfulness, signs of dementia, balloon tap while calling out items from a category (colors, foods, countries)

Exercise:

How to maintain strength (upper and lower body options), chair yoga, functional fitness (movements related to activities of daily living), introduction to diaphragmatic breathing, how to modify exercises for arthritis, group ball toss

The National Council on Aging (2023) explains more exercise programs that promote older adult wellness at Exercise Programs That Promote Senior Fitness.

Balance:

Introduction to vestibular problems, conducting balance screenings (like The 4-Stage Balance Test), sitting/standing balance routines, fall prevention, and current statistics on falls

In Conclusion

Occupational therapists in almost every setting are always working towards wellness. Sometimes without even knowing it, we utilize skills in public speaking, research, and advocacy. These skills are needed in wellness classes to help the older adult population better understand complex health topics.

There may be untapped potential at your workplace or in your community for group classes. If you ask the right leaders, find the right audience, and present the right data, you can help guide older adults on their wellness journey. We hope this helps you to get started with creating your very own wellness classes!