1. Implementing Health/Fitness Programs
Charles Plafcan, MA, Licensed Professional Counselor
Expiration 04/30/2016 License Number 67462
Fitness Coordinator: Edgemere Retirement,
Dallas, Texas
Copyright ©2013 Charles Plafcan
All Rights Reserved

2. Charles Plafcan LPC MA Professional Counseling (2010),
Licensed Professional Counselor Expiration 04/30/2016 License Number 67462
MA in Human Relations and Business (1994)
LPC/Fitness Coordinator Edgemere (2007 to present)
Bachelor of Arts in Psychology (1992)
ACE (American Council on Exercise) Group Fitness Instructor and ACE Personal Trainer
Sweatshop Aerobic Studio Owner (1989)
Waist Basket Aerobics Studio, Houston, Texas,
Instructor Trainer
Responsible for opening 5 Aerobic Studios in Dallas

3. Health/Fitness Programming
Increases the well-being of participants through Planned health education and fitness experiences
Achieve higher levels of health while preventing disease
Improve the psychological atmosphere of communities
Individualized health/needs assessments,
Scientifically correct and safe exercise techniques

4. Health/Fitness Programming: continued
Customized programming
Support services such as health counseling and regular group exercise classes
Promote fitness experiences
Facilitate health/wellness behavioral change and adherence techniques

5. Leadership: Fitness/Wellness Program Director
Promotes positive image of good health and fitness, “Role model of Fitness”
Has most influence on success of program, Provides the interface between the program and participants
Exercise leaders should be enthusiastic motivators with a positive attitude, persistent energy, ability to organize and lead exercise classes, use music and choreograph routines
Must be an effective counselor, good listener, establishing rapport through confidence and genuine concern for the participants
Organize and promote educational opportunities for residents and families.

6. Dimensions of Wellness
Physical  Engaging in at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days and other preventative approaches
Emotional  Being happy, sharing with others, and engaging in positive actions and thoughts.  
Social  Interacting with family, friends, and others in fun activities that stimulate the mind, body and spirit.  
Intellectual Encouraging a cognitive mind through various fun activities such as problem-solving, critical thinking and creativity. 
Spiritual  Valuing, believing and living spiritual beliefs every day, or finding inner peace through thoughtful exercises such as meditation.  
Vocational  Yearning to learn new ideas, hobbies, philosophies, skills, and being well informed. 

7. Wellness Wheel Intellectual Personal Wellness Vocational Physical
Social
Physical
Spiritual
Emotional

8. Traditional Programming
Health-based Fitness
Aerobic Capacity
Muscular Endurance
Muscular Strength
Flexibility
Body Composition
Nutrition
Weight Management

9. Where we’re Going… The Evolution of Fitness and Wellness
Behavioral Based: Seek behavior change in clients, help and encourage to persevere
Experience Based: “enjoy the doing”, the “getting someplace” as much as the goal or the “arriving” Understand the evolving needs and concerns of the aging client’s fitness experience
Psychological Based: Self motivation (or its absence), Life satisfaction, Happiness, Self-efficacy, peer encouragement, boost self esteem, pleasure and sociability—not effort and hard work

10. The Evolution of Fitness and Wellness
One-dimensional Approach Shift: Multi-dimensional Approach
Cognitive
Emotional
Physiological
Physiological

11. Fitness Professionals Expanded Scope of Practice
Now facing many special needs
Metabolic (raise the metabolism)
Musculoskeletal (strength training for frail and de-conditioned)
Post-rehabilitation (take care of clients after physical therapy)
Functional Training (training the body for the activities performed at home in daily life)
Aging
Obese

12. What we Need to Consider
Personal Attributes: (Belief systems, age, experiences, etc.)
Environnemental Factors: (Convenience, support, etc.)
Physical Activity Factors: (Injury, tolerance, etc.)
Choices: Cognitive (Thinking)
Emotional Factors: (Feeling)
Decisions and Choices: (Thinking)

13. What we Need to Consider
Shift focus to create positive, engaging and memorable experiences “Promote the experience and you can virtually guarantee yourself participation and higher retention rates” -Thomas Plummer

14. Early Cognitive Influences: exercise adherence
Improved self-efficacy with task accomplishment
set challenging, yet manageable tasks
Leverage any positive emotional experiences

15. Self-efficacy A belief in one’s own capabilities to complete a task.
The more capable one feels regarding their ability to engage in activity, the more likely they are to adhere.
Past performance and experiences -most influential
Emotional states or responses
Physiological and emotional states or responses

16. Rapport = Relationship based on trust & communication
Engagement: emotional involvement or commitment
Skillfully develop professional relationships
Strategically adapt to different personality styles
Successfully promote behavioral change strategies
Create an overall positive experience for clients
Optimize training to an individual’s unique needs, goals and characteristics

17. Perception is Reality Identify Readiness to Change
Implement Appropriate Behavioral Strategies
Build Self-Efficacy
Achieve / Promote Positive Behavioral Change
Utilize strategies to Prevent Lapses

18. Four Founding Principles
Empathy
Discrepancy (between current and with change)
Self-efficacy
Acknowledge / overcome ambivalence / resistance

19. Older Adults and Exercise
The Top 20 fitness Industry trends for 2015: American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM)
#8. Fitness Programs for Older Adults: create age-appropriate fitness programs to keep older adults healthy and active
#9. Functional Fitness and special fitness programs taylored to the needs of older adults
#10 Group Fitness “Healthy support groups will become a more popular offering in fitness settings due to peer encouragement and increased potential for success. The majority of older adults will seek group classes to stay fit.”

20. What is the Successful Aging?
Successful aging is a lifestyle that maximizes function and productivity.
Actively seeks ways to enhance the physical, mental, social and spiritual components of our lives
Promote the client’s independence 
Development of a fitness/wellness plan around each resident's individual desires and goals

21. MacArthur Foundation: study on aging aging
shattered the stereotypes of aging
landmark 8-year study ( )
70% of physical aging, and about 50% of mental aging, is determined by lifestyle
it's possible to live long without significant disability
maintain physical and mental skills
reduce our risk for disease and injury
stay productive and engaged in life

22. Personal Wellness : All Properties contribute & benefit

23. All Properties contribute & benefit
Maximize Profit Potential
Resident focused
Resident’s perceive more choices (portability)
Control cost with one uniform program
Ease of employee training
Everyone contributes from the Residents to the Employees
Fitness/Wellness Director implements through key personnel

24. SQLC communities: pulling it all together
SQLC communities to be on the cutting edge of Fitness and Wellness
Implement one Fitness/Wellness plan for all SQLC communities that is monitored by the Fitness/Wellness Director
Begin with one program at a time (ex. Exercise, Nutrition) and progress the wellness plan from there
Designate key personnel at each site to implement

25. SQLC communities: pulling it all together
Training manuals
Fitness/Wellness Program at each SQLC community structured so fluctuations in employment has no impact
Implement Program standardization and uniformity where any new employee can step in and know what is needed to be done

26. SQLC communities: pulling it all together
For the Fitness Instructors
Conduct Instructor Training sessions to make the program uniform through all SQLC communities
Talk the same Talk, Walk the same Walk
Fitness Instructor evaluation by Fitness/Wellness Director
Hands on approach with Fitness Instructors, have them practice doing what they are teaching

27. Certify and Train Staff
The Top 20 fitness Industry trends for 2015: CERTIFICATIONS professionals certified through programs that are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)
The need for Educated and Experienced Fitness Professionals

28. 1st phase of the plan Physical Activity
Why Is Physical Activity Such a Big Deal?

29. Big Deal? Regular exercise and physical activity
Being physically active can help you continue to do the things you enjoy and stay independent as you age
can produce long-term health benefits
can reduce the risk of developing some diseases and disabilities that develop as people grow older
an effective treatment for many chronic conditions
Older adults should do exercises that maintain or improve balance if they are at risk of falling

30. Big Deal? Regular exercise and physical activity
Older adults should determine their level of effort for physical activity relative to their level of fitness
Older adults with chronic conditions should understand whether and how their conditions affect their ability to do regular physical activity safely.

31. Exercise Programming: Sample implementation and how it has a significant impact on wellness
Needs Assessment : individual consultation, health screening questionnaires, exercise testing of cardiovascular and muscular endurance, strength, flexibility, Service Component
Discuss exercise goals: present and long-term
Education Component
Planning: Education materials, record keeping, progress monitoring
Implementation: individual counseling, teach them the equipment, regular group exercise classes, special group classes for special populations
Evaluation: post exercise testing, check their record keeping, questionnaires on the program’s effectiveness

32. Nutrition and Weight Management
2nd phase of the plan
Following a healthy eating plan and being physically active are keys to a healthy lifestyle

33. Older Adults: 65 years and older
Achieving and sustaining appropriate body weight across the lifespan is vital to maintaining good health and quality of life
Older adults should follow the food pyramid and dietary guidelines for adults.
When older adults cannot meet the adult guide-lines, they should be as physically active as their abilities and conditions will allow

34. Basic Nutrition: Sample implementation and how it has a significant impact on wellness
Needs Assessment : individual consultation, determine the resident’s current nutritional status. Observe, take body measurements, do a dietary intake Service Component
Goals: Counseling to set appropriate and realistic goals, individualized guidelines of eating correctly
Education Component
Planning: teach creative methods for diet improvement, Group Education, encouragement, progress monitoring
Implementation: each participant to keep a food diary, education of the food pyramid and dietary guidelines, encourage little changes at a time
Evaluation: discuss new eating habits, reassess body composition after 3 months, Director must be positive and sympathetic

35. Duties and Skills: Fitness/Wellness Director
Prepare preliminary departmental Operating Budget
Responsibilities include: interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work;
Appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees.
Responds promptly to resident needs.
Must demonstrate an interest in working with a senior population.
Interacts with guests, residents and staff in a courteous and friendly manner

36. Profile of Fitness/Wellness Director
These would include experience and knowledge of:
Adult fitness
Exercise Leadership
Behavior modification
Human relations
Personnel management
Health behavior
Health/Wellness Counseling
Human motivation theory
Human movement theory
Human anatomy
Public Relations

37. Sample Organizational Structure: Medical Department
Physicians
Fitness/Wellness Director
Psychologist
Health Educator
Nurses
Exercise Specialist
Nutritionist
Recreation Specialist

38. Sample Organizational Structure: YMCA Fitness/Wellness
Large YMCA
Fitness/Wellness Director
Health Enhancement Program Director
Sports/Recreation Program Director
Executive Director

39. Sample Organizational Structure: Private Health Care Facility
Chief Executive Officer
Medical Director
Education Consultant Director
Fitness/Wellness Director
Fitness/Wellness Program Delivery

40. Implementing Health/Fitness Programs
Charles Plafcan, MA, Licensed Professional Counselor
Expiration 04/30/2016 License Number 67462
Fitness Coordinator: Edgemere Retirement,
Dallas, Texas
Copyright ©2013 Charles Plafcan
All Rights Reserved

41. References
Fabio Comana, MA., MS.,Exercise Physiologist – The ACE Integrated Fitness Training (IFT©) Model Director of Continuing Education, National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).
Sara Kooperman, JD, CEO SCW Fitness Education (Dallas Mania), Our Fitness Future: Fad or Function (lecture).
National Institute on Aging, National Institutes of Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Exercise & Physical Activity, Your Everyday Guide
Patton, R., et al. Implementing Health/Fitness Programs: Champaign, Illinois: Human Kinetics Publishers, Inc., 1986
U.S. Department of Agriculture U.S. Department of Health and Human Services : Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2010