Osteofit
About this good practice
Osteofit provides exercise classes for active older adults who are interested in maintaining and building bone density while improving strength, flexibility and balance. One in three women in Ireland over 55 suffer from Osteoporosis, where bones can become brittle. The classes are also suitable for those who suffer from Osteopenia, bone mineral density is lower than normal. Recently, the business added a second dimension, whereby Osteofit plans to train fitness instructors who will deliver these tailored classes to older adults. Classes originally started in Limerick city but the instructor has found there is a greater demand for classes in rural communities where less is offered for older adults compared to urban areas. The classes are also a social outlet for rural participants. The instructor can tailor the class to the needs of the group. For example, floor based exercises with an active group of older adults and chair based exercises for a dependent or fragile group of older adults.
Resources needed
This is a low resource model, where there is an initial once-off outlay for equipment & annual costs (insurance and subscription to English Osteoporosis Society). The service is delivered in community centres, which incur an hourly rental cost.
Labour: (owner only FTE), occasional PT instructors
Evidence of success
Osteofit currently has a waiting list of rural communities who want the Osteofit classes delivered in their area. The owner is in the process of adding the training dimension to the business, which will train fitness instructors in delivering a licensed Osteofit programme. The Osteofit programme is in the process of getting accredited with a Higher level institution in Ireland. Osteofit services the three SilverSME groups; active, dependent and fragile.
Potential for learning or transfer
Osteoporosis is also very prevalent in the European Union (it affects 1 in 3 over 50) and its prevalence is set to increase significantly due to an ageing population. As this is a low cost, low resource model, it is very transferable to rural regions across the European Union. Owner is aware of older adults who lack confidence starting Osteofit classes and offers the first class free of charge to encourage participants to try the class. Getting older adults to take classes and ensuring they return the following week can be difficult. Therefore, the owner is flexible with older adults where they can pay per class and no prior commitment to a set number of classes is required. The company has taken the feedback of older adults on board who are very willing to offer advice on how the service can be improved for them. Osteofit (Silver Entrepreneur) supports the Silver Economy by offering this service to older people in the Southern region of Ireland.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Osteofit