April 17, 2024 • 27 mins
Mercedes Fernandez, from Mouvement Geriatric Physiotherapy, joins Elder Law Attorney Bob Mannor to discuss the importance of movement and exercise for seniors. Mercedes shares her personal and professional journey in geriatric kinesiology and how she transitioned to working with older adults online. She explains the benefits of remote training, including the ability to record sessions and provide personalized exercises for clients to practice at home. Mercedes emphasizes the importance of movement for seniors, highlighting how it can improve circulation, prevent stiffness and pain, and enhance overall health. She also discusses the role of movement in dementia care and shares personal experiences with her grandmothers. Mercedes concludes by providing information on how to contact her and access her resources.
Takeaways
- Movement and exercise are crucial for seniors to maintain their health and well-being.
- Remote training allows for personalized exercises and the ability to record sessions for clients to practice at home.
- Regular movement can improve circulation, prevent stiffness and pain, and enhance overall health.
- Individuals with memory loss or dementia can especially benefit from movement and outdoor experiences.
- It is important to prioritize health to ensure a better quality of life as we age.
So, tune in, and let's support our aging population together, one step at a time.
Host: Attorney Bob Mannor
Guest: Mercedes Fernandez of Mouvement Geriatric Physiotherapy
Executive Producer: Savannah Meksto
Learn more about Mannor Law Group
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ABOUT US:
Mannor Law Group helps clients in all matters of estate planning and elder law including special needs planning, veterans’ benefits, Medicaid planning, estate administration, and more. We offer guidance through all stages of life.
We also help families dealing with dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other illnesses that cause memory loss. We take a comprehensive, holistic approach, called Life Care Planning. LEARN MORE...
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
You're listening to Advice from your Advocates, a
show where we provide elder lawadvice to professionals who work
with the elderly and theirfamilies.
Welcome back to Advice fromyour Advocates.
I'm Bob Manor.
I'm a certified elder lawattorney in Michigan and our
practice is a practice thatfocuses a lot on helping folks
that have family members withdementia, so it makes me really
(00:23):
excited today that we haveMercedes Fernandez from Movement
Geriatric Physiotherapy.
This is a really interestingtopic today and I think you'll
be fascinated by it, Mercedeswelcome.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Thank you, Bob.
I am very grateful and veryexcited to have this
conversation with you today.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
So I am also I'm really excited to learn more
about your work and what you doand how you came to do that work
.
So first, just kind of tell usa little bit about what the
movement geriatric physiotherapyis and what you do.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yes, absolutely.
I've been in the practice ofgeriatric kinesiology for about
10 years, if not, it feelslonger than that, but 10 years
is essentially the realm.
I've been in this personal work, professional work.
Personally, I grew up with mygrandfather, who has passed away
in 2017.
(01:15):
But we were really close.
He was very, very helpful.
In my infant years.
My mother was kind of goingthrough some illness after the
pregnancy and so my grandfatherreally stepped in and from there
we created a bond and so overmy years of education and
academics, I started to createsome different companies.
(01:36):
So my first company I guess youcan call it was right out of
college.
I graduated with an exercisescience bachelor's degree.
It was right out of college, Igraduated with an exercise
science bachelor's degree.
So it was essentially personaltraining, kind of learning that
aspect and at that point I knewthat I wanted to work with
seniors, I wanted to work withindividuals with disabilities,
and so over the generations andover years of working with
(02:00):
different types of people, Ihave now settled into working
specifically with older adultsonline.
Especially post-COVID era gaveus the ability so that I can now
work with many people indifferent parts of the world
doing what I love the most, andthat's movement.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
That's.
You know.
The really interesting part ofthat is that you're able to do
this with people throughout theworld.
That's fascinating, you know.
The really interesting part ofthat is that you're able to do
this with people throughout theworld.
That's fascinating.
You know, one of the thingsthat we have in common is that
from an early age, we both hadthis affection and passion for
helping seniors.
My parents were a little olderwhen I was born and I was the
youngest, and they had a passionfor helping and volunteering at
(02:43):
a senior center and theydragged me with them all the
time.
So from an age of about two tothree years old, I was hanging
around people that were in their70s and 80s and I've just
always had that connection, andI appreciate the story about
your grandfather.
Tell me more about how thisworks from a standpoint of you
(03:04):
doing this worldwide, that youcan do it remotely.
I'd like to hear more about howthat works.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Yes, and the beauty of what I found with remote work
.
Essentially, what I startedthat first iteration of personal
training was an in-home serviceand so I learned from that
concept of what a client and Idon't like to use the word
patient.
They're part of our community,right?
(03:32):
So people I'm working with,they really want to be
comfortable and, depending ontheir mobility, it can be
difficult for them to leavetheir house, to leave the space
that they're in most of the time.
And what I've worked with excuseme, when COVID happened, I
really had to learn how to adaptto not being able to go to my
(03:52):
clients' homes because of COVID.
So what I found was there was alittle bit of technical
learning.
You know the computers andcameras, but it actually becomes
really fun because you can, youcan screen capture, we can
record.
Now If there's a lesson, that,that or a specific movement or
(04:12):
exercise that a client reallywants to focus on, we get to
record that and then I can sendit to them and they can work and
practice on that exercise overand over again.
You know having 10 sessions inthe same week.
So working with workingremotely has actually been very
awesome.
And to to to everyone who'slistening, who doesn't know?
(04:34):
I was able to move, you know,to different parts of the world,
and so I think that's beenreally exciting, and on top of
that, I have been able to learnnew languages, so then I can
even expand more of my.
It's really my passion, youknow.
It's not, it's less of thebranding and, like the business
aspect of everything it's.
My mission has always been how,how can I help older adults,
(04:57):
like everywhere, and so now,with the accessibility of online
training, it's it's been ableto do that.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
That's amazing, honestly, so we will let our
listeners know.
You're actually calling in fromBelgium today, correct?
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Which is very cool.
So that's really, you know.
That, honestly, is fascinating,all the advances that you know,
as awful as COVID was.
There's so many things thathave changed and that has given
us more access and I love thatthought that now not only can
you do the work that you do, butrecord it so that people I've
(05:38):
had the shoulder surgery and Iremember doing those exercises
and it was great, but then I'dget home and I'd forget how to
do it Recording these sessionsmakes a ton of sense to me, so
that they can then, in betweenyour sessions, they can then
practice and continue thattherapy.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Yes, it's known in the kinesiology world or the
physiotherapy world.
They're the same word, it'sjust different parts of the
world that use it differently.
World or the physiotherapyworld, they're the same word,
it's just different parts of theworld that use it differently.
Um, but essentially the studyof human body movement and also
known as physical therapy.
That's the.
That's the big key buzzword uma physical therapy's.
You know, biggest headache isthe, the paperwork first of all,
(06:19):
but but behind the clinicalaspect is that the most
important part of physicaltherapy is doing your home
exercises and 90% of the time, aperson in physical therapy will
forget to do their homeexercises because they don't
have the paper they forgot, orthey get home and they're like
I'll just wait for my nextsession.
(06:40):
So yeah, to your point, there'sa lot of factors in exercise and
motivation and remembering theexercise, remembering the form.
If you don't physically see itor you don't have someone who's
guiding you and kind ofmonitoring, then it's easier to
just be like you know, hey, ok,I'll kind of just wing it or
I'll forget.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
Well, let's talk more about that, and I want to talk
about the importance of this.
Well, let's talk more aboutthat, and I want to talk about
the importance of this.
So why you know and again, Iknow you've talked about why you
have this affection and passionfor helping seniors, but why
should seniors participate inthis?
I think it's fairly obvious,but I think we should say it.
We should talk about why thisis important for seniors, as we
(07:22):
age, to participate in this typeof a program.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Yes, the biggest thing.
Again, it's like a I don't knowhow to say it it's like a, not
a pitch.
The word is on my tip of mytongue it's like a tagline yes,
right.
So the tagline is if you don'tuse it, you lose it.
How often are we sitting on thecouch or the sofa watching a
really long movie.
(07:47):
We get up and we're like, oh,my back is a little achy, do we
ever think I should go for awalk?
Or how about I stretch?
Over time, what happens to thebody physiologically is the
muscles start to get tighter andso, while we feel lethargic or
we feel a little stiff, all ofthat is actually physiologically
(08:08):
telling you that your bodyneeds to be moved, your body
needs to be stretched.
Oftentimes, when we start to ageand myself included I know I
look young and I am on theyounger spectrum, I guess you
can say, of life, but I'venoticed physical changes myself
in, just you know, from earlytwenties to mid thirties, and so
(08:29):
I can only imagine, you know, Ican see my parents aging now.
And essentially, why it's soimportant to just you know it
doesn't have to be a hardcoreexercise.
It doesn't have to be liftingweights like Arnold.
It doesn't have to be like amarathon.
Little movements makes such animpact because we need the blood
to circulate, we need themuscles to keep moving so they
(08:49):
don't get stiff.
Oftentimes that tightness isgoing to cause knee pain, which
causes lower back pain, whichthen causes someone to then
become immobile.
It's too painful to walk, it'stoo painful to stand up.
You know, we start rounding inthe shoulders, we start to have
kyphosis, which is another wordfor the hunchback, and so all
(09:13):
those things that might seem sominute and minuscule are
eventually add up to to to the,unfortunately like the
stereotype of like, oh well, weget old and we just don't move
and we die.
Yeah, it's like that paradigmneeds to be perfect it can be.
It can be with just changingthe mindset, of a little bit of
(09:37):
movement a day.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
So I'd like to get into in a minute more about like
what this looks like when youhave a session with someone.
But at first I'm very curiousabout how do you, how do people
find you?
How do they?
You know they, they know thatthis is something that they
should be doing, or maybe theirkids or their spouse is
encouraging it.
How do, how do you find your,your clients, your clients?
Speaker 2 (10:08):
yes, um, I've been for for my, for me personally,
has been referral online.
You know, word of mouth has hasbeen the way that I've grown
podcasts, of course, and and um,contributing with well-known
media outlets, um, sopartnerships and such.
But I think that if anyonewho's listening it's really
great that you can.
You know we have googlenowadays where you can search
online.
(10:29):
Um, the thing that I found themost when I was beginning out a
couple years back was that, um,a lot of physical training,
personal training if, like adaughter or a son or a
grandchild is looking for theirparent or grandparent there's
not many trainers or personaltrainers or physical therapists
who are focusing on elderly orelders or geriatric patients
(10:53):
excuse me, clients.
So it's really important thatyou vet and that can be a long
process process, but I I havefeet, excuse me.
I've seen since covid there hasbeen a little bit of a shift in
the younger generation, who isstarting to pay much more
attention to our agingpopulation.
So I'm saying that in in apositive way of if you were to
(11:15):
look in your area, maybe evenasking social services if there
are some, like silver sneakersis really popular A or P, but if
you really want to specializein someone who does direct work,
like I do, it's a matter ofdoing a quick search.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
So then, what is your typical client as far as?
Are they typically, first ofall, like?
What age would be your typicalclient?
But secondly, is it often, ormost of the time, where they've
experienced some kind ofphysical setback, or is it
(11:54):
sometimes that they're justrealizing that they want to be
more flexible for their future?
Is it usually that they'rerecovering from something, or is
it some of your clients thatare just realizing that they
want to be better in the future?
Speaker 2 (12:10):
I would say it's a little bit of a wash with both,
most in all honesty.
Yeah, it usually is thebeginning, the first one you
mentioned.
Yeah, it usually is thebeginning, the first one you
mentioned.
There's typically and this isfound in research as well that a
person won't actually seek helpuntil something happens.
(12:30):
So I'm usually contacted by thechild or the grandchild or the
spouse Because there was a fall,there was a hospitalization,
there was some kind of illnessin which their health they
really had to take a hard lookabout.
Okay, if we don't fix this orif we don't get dad to move, you
(12:50):
know he might just fall downthe stairs again and something
can be worse.
He's getting weaker.
I've had some, I've had anexample of an elderly man who
knew he was.
He was really ill.
He was terminally ill, but hewanted to be able to walk to
enjoy the rest of his life.
So, he really just neededcompanionship.
He needed security because hiswife wasn't available to to go
(13:13):
out and walk with him.
So I was able to assist in thatin that regard.
So there's really differentlevels, but most of the time
it's not.
It would be beautiful.
I always hope that's kind of mymission right To get people to
be more aware of.
Hey, you know, I need to justprioritize my health, and what
does that look like and how canI do it?
Um, but unfortunately it'susually the latter, the negative
(13:36):
, the, the.
The negative aspect of a fallor an injury is is the precursor
to getting help.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Yeah, that's you know .
We talk about this a lot in ouroffice about you know.
We really encourage people toplan ahead and we do a lot of
education to try to get folks tobe prepared for the likely
future of aging and some of theyou know and the possibility of
(14:03):
even having some memory loss,things like that.
But the reality is, at leasthalf of our clients come in only
when there's a crisis, whenthere's an emergency, and that's
fine too.
It's just like you say.
I always hold out hope for theidea that more and more people
will be wanting to, you know,get in front of things, be, you
(14:25):
know, prepare for their futureand make their future, you know,
more comfortable.
So I understand where you'recoming from.
So talk us through what itsounds like to me that you are
very customized in each personthat you work with.
But talk us through, if you can, any, um, what a session
(14:48):
wouldn't typically look like orwhat might be, how you might um,
uh, you know, run a sessionwith, uh, with a senior.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Certainly, certainly.
And before I jump into that, Ijust want to say I really value
what you're doing as well at thefirm in helping that future
planning and helping people getset up, because I personally
have experienced in the last sixyears so much loss,
unfortunately like unexpectedloss kind of not an unexpected
loss for older adults passingaway, not an unexpected loss for
(15:19):
older adults passing away, butalmost always if not all of them
, were not prepared for theirstate for their will for all
this, and it has been such amess to see like my family,
close family and acquaintanceskind of go through that struggle
.
So I just wanted to say that Ireally appreciate that what
(15:40):
you're doing here.
So a session, I guessessentially what my design is is
.
You know I get to know who I'mworking with.
We always go through.
You know what are the needs,how do we tailor, what your
goals are, how do we get there?
Do you have things in yourhouse that are accessible, maybe
things that are not accessible?
(16:00):
I always encourage a homesafety evaluation as well, which
I always which I do, I includeis assessing the, the exercise
room, wherever the computer isgoing to be, just to ensure that
you know we're practicingsafely.
And then, if there's acaregiver involved, including
them and kind of talking aboutthat as well.
(16:21):
And so yeah, there's, there's,um, the thing with my work is
that there's varying levels ofmobility, and you know that
includes do they have a mobilityaid?
Are they using a walker?
Do they live alone?
Um, is there a caregiver?
Do they want the caregiverpresent?
Um, you know, is it a a gender?
Do some people are feel feelcomfortable with someone present
(16:43):
, someone not present?
You know, so there's.
There are different aspects anddifferent levels of mobility in
the sense of do they need help?
Are they going to be okay whenthey're alone?
What are they able to dowithout me there, physically
there, and without a caregiveras well?
So different aspects that a lotof people don't think about,
but we go through that in detailin the as well.
So different aspects that a lotof people don't think about,
(17:04):
but we go through that in detailin the first session and then,
after that, we start to.
We, you know, we meet, we planto meet, depending on the
treatment plan, and then fromthere, we always record and it
gets sent to to them.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
And I appreciate that you incorporate the caregivers.
I think that's really smart.
What is the average age, ortypical age, of the folks that
you're working with?
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Yes, so it does start with the 65 and up.
The typical age that I workwith is around 70 to 78.
I've had some older clients,but I would say the range
typically starts around 70smid-70s.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
This is going to be a difficult question and I'm not
sure if it's something thatyou've been able to incorporate,
but one of the things we knowabout our clients often they
have some event, they need toget stronger, they need to get
those skills back, and whatcomplicates it is if they have
(18:09):
some memory loss or dementia.
Do you ever have clients thatyou work with that also are
experiencing some memory loss ordementia?
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Thank you for asking and I thank you for setting it
up in such a beautiful way.
I I personally haven't had aworked with.
Excuse me, let me take thatback.
I have worked but not paid work.
Um, okay, and it's settingwhere a client has experience is
experiencing dementia,alzheimer's.
(18:39):
However, I have personalexperience and academic
experience working with with anindividual who is starting to
experience that.
So I can't say that I've beenin memory care, but I do have
experience.
I understand what the cyclesare.
I understand you know ifthere's a trigger, what to do,
how to back that up.
I do think that it's stillimportant that they get their
(19:02):
movement.
However, there is it's, youknow it is going to be more of a
repetition rather than aprogression of of gaining
movement or gaining strength andsuch.
I don't.
I'm not saying that it'simpossible, I'm just saying that
it is.
It's a different, it's adifferent treatment plan, so
(19:22):
it's part of it.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Yeah, well, that's interesting and yeah, it's
definitely more challenging.
We see this with our clientssometimes that they've had a
fall or something like that andthen they go for therapy,
whether it be physical therapyor occupational therapy or
whatever, and it becomes verychallenging and almost to the
(19:44):
extent that sometimes they justwon't participate if there is
memory issues, and so it isunfortunate.
But I agree with you 100% thatit's still so important and
movement, and you know, eveninteraction.
You'd mentioned about one ofyour clients that just needed
(20:05):
that interaction too, and Ithink all of that is very
important to maintain, you know,a healthier lifestyle.
I never say, you know that wecan always return to at a
certain age.
We can't always return tocomplete and perfect health, but
we can be healthier.
It can't be great, but it canbe better.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Yes, yes, absolutely.
And something to add here isthat, for anyone listening who
may be dealing with a new onsetof memory loss or someone in
their immediate circle, whatI've found and something so
beautiful is both mygrandmothers actually had
Alzheimer's, and both of them.
(20:45):
What they both loved to do themost and I got to do with them
was just a simple take them outfor a walk.
And one of my grandmotherseventually the dementia got to a
point where she was no longerable to walk.
So even then you can awheelchair or a walker, a mobile
walker with a chair, afour-wheel walker, the
(21:09):
experience outside for them, forsomeone who is in later stages
of dementia and Alzheimer's,it's a new experience every time
.
So, while we've been on thesame route, for them, because
there are aspects that theydon't remember, it's a new walk.
It's almost like a child goingthrough like a candy store and
then going to a new candy store,right.
So it's a beautiful experienceto be with them in that aspect
(21:34):
of they might not be moving asmuch, especially if they're in
the wheelchair, but they'regetting outside, they're getting
the companionship and they'realso being stimulated by the
environment.
So that, I think, adds to,while it's not movement, it's
still a sense of health.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
You just triggered a memory of mine from when I was a
small child and my grandfather.
So I'm in Michigan and mygrandfather lived in Michigan
his whole life and there's aparticularly beautiful falls
called Tukwamunan Falls in avery remote area of Michigan and
he had never been there and itwas one of his things that he
(22:13):
always wanted to be there.
But now he didn't have thatphysical capability and it is a
trail and it's not an overlyrough trail, but it's a trail.
It's not paved I don't know ifit is now, but at the time it
was not and so we got a littlechair and a walker, like you had
mentioned, and he would walkabout 10 feet and then sit down,
(22:33):
take a rest, walk about 10 feet, sit down, take a rest.
So he got to see the falls andI thought that was really cool.
It's an example of how importantthis type of thing is.
Even when somebody doesn't havethat ability to walk the mile
to the falls, they might be ableto take a few hours and still
enjoy it.
We, you know, people werewalking by and they would talk
(22:54):
to him and they'd say, oh, thisis great that you're coming up
here, and it was just a veryenjoyable experience, to the
extent that I still remember it,you know, probably 45 years
later.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Yes, yes, and those are the moments that makes me
feel so happy to be in this workneed to be a younger generation
, just everyone, to bringawareness to the beauty that is
(23:28):
around an aging population, anaging community.
You know, I live in Belgium nowand it's a big bike community
and I see older adults who areprobably well in their 80s still
riding a bike and it's so cooland they're out there, they're
having their coffee.
I've seen a few times and ithas just.
It just always opens my heart,these beautiful seniors who are
(23:56):
it's cobblestone.
It's like you know, very Europe.
They are walking in the rainbecause it's culture.
They're walking in the rain withtheir walker and they are going
for it and they just like theywill take their time.
And it might take them to yourpoint, they might take them a
couple hours, but they arerelentless and they will keep
going.
And I just think that thatexperience, that fervor, that
(24:17):
drive is so inspiring.
And so I always tell peoplearound me like hey, have you
seen a senior today?
What can you do to help them?
It's so simple to be like hey,can I hold an umbrella for you?
And that memory will stick withyou.
So I appreciate you sharingyour story.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Now do you do mostly one-on-one.
In other words, if there was anorganization that wanted to
have you do some work with themand it was a group of seniors,
let's say an unassisted livingtype setting or something like
that, would you be able to dothat also?
Or you do primarily one-on-one?
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Yes, it's a great question you ask.
I haven't had this question.
I primarily do one-on-oneremotely and I haven't done a
group setting remotely, so I cando it.
I actually used to work in manyassisted living communities
over my years of experience andthat's always fun.
I had a great experience withgetting creative with group
(25:21):
classes.
There is all levels, so youjust kind of go with the flow
with it.
Um, remotely, I haven't quitedone that, but I don't think
that it would be challenging.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Yeah, so for folks that are interested in learning
more about your services,learning more about you, what's
the best way to get ahold of you?
What's the best way to interactwith you?
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Yes, I have a one-stop shop.
It is movementinfo, so insteadofcom it's info, and movement is
spelled with a U, so for anyonewho was like, that doesn't make
any sense, it's the.
French way.
It is a spell movement inFrench, so it's M O U V E M E N
(26:03):
T dot, oh, and let's repeat.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
Go ahead, please.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
I was going to say you just you find everything
there.
You can find out.
There's a chat button that goesdirectly to me.
You can email me.
I have all my free YouTubevideos on there.
They're, like you know, at homeexercises, or all my articles
that I've done for forpublications, podcasts, you name
it.
So everything is justsimplified.
It's on that website.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
So I'm just going to repeat that because we want to
make sure people spell it right.
It's M-O-U-V-E, m-e-n-t, dot.
I-n-f-o.
Is that right, correct?
Okay, and I'm glad to hear thatyou have the YouTube videos.
I think that I encourageeverybody to check that out.
Check out her YouTube videos,make sure you like her YouTube
videos, because I think you'redoing great work and I really
(26:52):
appreciate you coming on todayand helping explain some of this
to us.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Thank you, Bob.
I really appreciate it andlikewise, keep doing what you're
doing, and it's people like uswho are, you know.
I personally like to believethat we're really making an
influence for that drop in theocean that's rippling out.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
So if you've enjoyed this podcast and you want to
hear more, don't forget tosubscribe to Advice From your
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(27:32):
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To learn more, visitmanorlawgroupcom.
You're listening to Advice from your Advocates, a
show where we provide elder lawadvice to professionals who work
with the elderly and theirfamilies.
Welcome back to Advice fromyour Advocates.
I'm Bob Manor.
I'm a certified elder lawattorney in Michigan and our
practice is a practice thatfocuses a lot on helping folks
that have family members withdementia, so it makes me really
(00:23):
excited today that we haveMercedes Fernandez from Movement
Geriatric Physiotherapy.
This is a really interestingtopic today and I think you'll
be fascinated by it, Mercedeswelcome.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Thank you, Bob.
I am very grateful and veryexcited to have this
conversation with you today.
Speaker 1 (00:40):
So I am also I'm really excited to learn more
about your work and what you doand how you came to do that work
.
So first, just kind of tell usa little bit about what the
movement geriatric physiotherapyis and what you do.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Yes, absolutely.
I've been in the practice ofgeriatric kinesiology for about
10 years, if not, it feelslonger than that, but 10 years
is essentially the realm.
I've been in this personal work, professional work.
Personally, I grew up with mygrandfather, who has passed away
in 2017.
(01:15):
But we were really close.
He was very, very helpful.
In my infant years.
My mother was kind of goingthrough some illness after the
pregnancy and so my grandfatherreally stepped in and from there
we created a bond and so overmy years of education and
academics, I started to createsome different companies.
(01:36):
So my first company I guess youcan call it was right out of
college.
I graduated with an exercisescience bachelor's degree.
It was right out of college, Igraduated with an exercise
science bachelor's degree.
So it was essentially personaltraining, kind of learning that
aspect and at that point I knewthat I wanted to work with
seniors, I wanted to work withindividuals with disabilities,
and so over the generations andover years of working with
(02:00):
different types of people, Ihave now settled into working
specifically with older adultsonline.
Especially post-COVID era gaveus the ability so that I can now
work with many people indifferent parts of the world
doing what I love the most, andthat's movement.
Speaker 1 (02:19):
That's.
You know.
The really interesting part ofthat is that you're able to do
this with people throughout theworld.
That's fascinating, you know.
The really interesting part ofthat is that you're able to do
this with people throughout theworld.
That's fascinating.
You know, one of the thingsthat we have in common is that
from an early age, we both hadthis affection and passion for
helping seniors.
My parents were a little olderwhen I was born and I was the
youngest, and they had a passionfor helping and volunteering at
(02:43):
a senior center and theydragged me with them all the
time.
So from an age of about two tothree years old, I was hanging
around people that were in their70s and 80s and I've just
always had that connection, andI appreciate the story about
your grandfather.
Tell me more about how thisworks from a standpoint of you
(03:04):
doing this worldwide, that youcan do it remotely.
I'd like to hear more about howthat works.
Speaker 2 (03:11):
Yes, and the beauty of what I found with remote work
.
Essentially, what I startedthat first iteration of personal
training was an in-home serviceand so I learned from that
concept of what a client and Idon't like to use the word
patient.
They're part of our community,right?
(03:32):
So people I'm working with,they really want to be
comfortable and, depending ontheir mobility, it can be
difficult for them to leavetheir house, to leave the space
that they're in most of the time.
And what I've worked with excuseme, when COVID happened, I
really had to learn how to adaptto not being able to go to my
(03:52):
clients' homes because of COVID.
So what I found was there was alittle bit of technical
learning.
You know the computers andcameras, but it actually becomes
really fun because you can, youcan screen capture, we can
record.
Now If there's a lesson, that,that or a specific movement or
(04:12):
exercise that a client reallywants to focus on, we get to
record that and then I can sendit to them and they can work and
practice on that exercise overand over again.
You know having 10 sessions inthe same week.
So working with workingremotely has actually been very
awesome.
And to to to everyone who'slistening, who doesn't know?
(04:34):
I was able to move, you know,to different parts of the world,
and so I think that's beenreally exciting, and on top of
that, I have been able to learnnew languages, so then I can
even expand more of my.
It's really my passion, youknow.
It's not, it's less of thebranding and, like the business
aspect of everything it's.
My mission has always been how,how can I help older adults,
(04:57):
like everywhere, and so now,with the accessibility of online
training, it's it's been ableto do that.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
That's amazing, honestly, so we will let our
listeners know.
You're actually calling in fromBelgium today, correct?
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
Which is very cool.
So that's really, you know.
That, honestly, is fascinating,all the advances that you know,
as awful as COVID was.
There's so many things thathave changed and that has given
us more access and I love thatthought that now not only can
you do the work that you do, butrecord it so that people I've
(05:38):
had the shoulder surgery and Iremember doing those exercises
and it was great, but then I'dget home and I'd forget how to
do it Recording these sessionsmakes a ton of sense to me, so
that they can then, in betweenyour sessions, they can then
practice and continue thattherapy.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
Yes, it's known in the kinesiology world or the
physiotherapy world.
They're the same word, it'sjust different parts of the
world that use it differently.
World or the physiotherapyworld, they're the same word,
it's just different parts of theworld that use it differently.
Um, but essentially the studyof human body movement and also
known as physical therapy.
That's the.
That's the big key buzzword uma physical therapy's.
You know, biggest headache isthe, the paperwork first of all,
(06:19):
but but behind the clinicalaspect is that the most
important part of physicaltherapy is doing your home
exercises and 90% of the time, aperson in physical therapy will
forget to do their homeexercises because they don't
have the paper they forgot, orthey get home and they're like
I'll just wait for my nextsession.
(06:40):
So yeah, to your point, there'sa lot of factors in exercise and
motivation and remembering theexercise, remembering the form.
If you don't physically see itor you don't have someone who's
guiding you and kind ofmonitoring, then it's easier to
just be like you know, hey, ok,I'll kind of just wing it or
I'll forget.
Speaker 1 (07:01):
Well, let's talk more about that, and I want to talk
about the importance of this.
Well, let's talk more aboutthat, and I want to talk about
the importance of this.
So why you know and again, Iknow you've talked about why you
have this affection and passionfor helping seniors, but why
should seniors participate inthis?
I think it's fairly obvious,but I think we should say it.
We should talk about why thisis important for seniors, as we
(07:22):
age, to participate in this typeof a program.
Speaker 2 (07:27):
Yes, the biggest thing.
Again, it's like a I don't knowhow to say it it's like a, not
a pitch.
The word is on my tip of mytongue it's like a tagline yes,
right.
So the tagline is if you don'tuse it, you lose it.
How often are we sitting on thecouch or the sofa watching a
really long movie.
(07:47):
We get up and we're like, oh,my back is a little achy, do we
ever think I should go for awalk?
Or how about I stretch?
Over time, what happens to thebody physiologically is the
muscles start to get tighter andso, while we feel lethargic or
we feel a little stiff, all ofthat is actually physiologically
(08:08):
telling you that your bodyneeds to be moved, your body
needs to be stretched.
Oftentimes, when we start to ageand myself included I know I
look young and I am on theyounger spectrum, I guess you
can say, of life, but I'venoticed physical changes myself
in, just you know, from earlytwenties to mid thirties, and so
(08:29):
I can only imagine, you know, Ican see my parents aging now.
And essentially, why it's soimportant to just you know it
doesn't have to be a hardcoreexercise.
It doesn't have to be liftingweights like Arnold.
It doesn't have to be like amarathon.
Little movements makes such animpact because we need the blood
to circulate, we need themuscles to keep moving so they
(08:49):
don't get stiff.
Oftentimes that tightness isgoing to cause knee pain, which
causes lower back pain, whichthen causes someone to then
become immobile.
It's too painful to walk, it'stoo painful to stand up.
You know, we start rounding inthe shoulders, we start to have
kyphosis, which is another wordfor the hunchback, and so all
(09:13):
those things that might seem sominute and minuscule are
eventually add up to to to the,unfortunately like the
stereotype of like, oh well, weget old and we just don't move
and we die.
Yeah, it's like that paradigmneeds to be perfect it can be.
It can be with just changingthe mindset, of a little bit of
(09:37):
movement a day.
Speaker 1 (09:39):
So I'd like to get into in a minute more about like
what this looks like when youhave a session with someone.
But at first I'm very curiousabout how do you, how do people
find you?
How do they?
You know they, they know thatthis is something that they
should be doing, or maybe theirkids or their spouse is
encouraging it.
How do, how do you find your,your clients, your clients?
Speaker 2 (10:08):
yes, um, I've been for for my, for me personally,
has been referral online.
You know, word of mouth has hasbeen the way that I've grown
podcasts, of course, and and um,contributing with well-known
media outlets, um, sopartnerships and such.
But I think that if anyonewho's listening it's really
great that you can.
You know we have googlenowadays where you can search
online.
(10:29):
Um, the thing that I found themost when I was beginning out a
couple years back was that, um,a lot of physical training,
personal training if, like adaughter or a son or a
grandchild is looking for theirparent or grandparent there's
not many trainers or personaltrainers or physical therapists
who are focusing on elderly orelders or geriatric patients
(10:53):
excuse me, clients.
So it's really important thatyou vet and that can be a long
process process, but I I havefeet, excuse me.
I've seen since covid there hasbeen a little bit of a shift in
the younger generation, who isstarting to pay much more
attention to our agingpopulation.
So I'm saying that in in apositive way of if you were to
(11:15):
look in your area, maybe evenasking social services if there
are some, like silver sneakersis really popular A or P, but if
you really want to specializein someone who does direct work,
like I do, it's a matter ofdoing a quick search.
Speaker 1 (11:33):
So then, what is your typical client as far as?
Are they typically, first ofall, like?
What age would be your typicalclient?
But secondly, is it often, ormost of the time, where they've
experienced some kind ofphysical setback, or is it
(11:54):
sometimes that they're justrealizing that they want to be
more flexible for their future?
Is it usually that they'rerecovering from something, or is
it some of your clients thatare just realizing that they
want to be better in the future?
Speaker 2 (12:10):
I would say it's a little bit of a wash with both,
most in all honesty.
Yeah, it usually is thebeginning, the first one you
mentioned.
Yeah, it usually is thebeginning, the first one you
mentioned.
There's typically and this isfound in research as well that a
person won't actually seek helpuntil something happens.
(12:30):
So I'm usually contacted by thechild or the grandchild or the
spouse Because there was a fall,there was a hospitalization,
there was some kind of illnessin which their health they
really had to take a hard lookabout.
Okay, if we don't fix this orif we don't get dad to move, you
(12:50):
know he might just fall downthe stairs again and something
can be worse.
He's getting weaker.
I've had some, I've had anexample of an elderly man who
knew he was.
He was really ill.
He was terminally ill, but hewanted to be able to walk to
enjoy the rest of his life.
So, he really just neededcompanionship.
He needed security because hiswife wasn't available to to go
(13:13):
out and walk with him.
So I was able to assist in thatin that regard.
So there's really differentlevels, but most of the time
it's not.
It would be beautiful.
I always hope that's kind of mymission right To get people to
be more aware of.
Hey, you know, I need to justprioritize my health, and what
does that look like and how canI do it?
Um, but unfortunately it'susually the latter, the negative
(13:36):
, the, the.
The negative aspect of a fallor an injury is is the precursor
to getting help.
Speaker 1 (13:42):
Yeah, that's you know .
We talk about this a lot in ouroffice about you know.
We really encourage people toplan ahead and we do a lot of
education to try to get folks tobe prepared for the likely
future of aging and some of theyou know and the possibility of
(14:03):
even having some memory loss,things like that.
But the reality is, at leasthalf of our clients come in only
when there's a crisis, whenthere's an emergency, and that's
fine too.
It's just like you say.
I always hold out hope for theidea that more and more people
will be wanting to, you know,get in front of things, be, you
(14:25):
know, prepare for their futureand make their future, you know,
more comfortable.
So I understand where you'recoming from.
So talk us through what itsounds like to me that you are
very customized in each personthat you work with.
But talk us through, if you can, any, um, what a session
(14:48):
wouldn't typically look like orwhat might be, how you might um,
uh, you know, run a sessionwith, uh, with a senior.
Speaker 2 (14:58):
Certainly, certainly.
And before I jump into that, Ijust want to say I really value
what you're doing as well at thefirm in helping that future
planning and helping people getset up, because I personally
have experienced in the last sixyears so much loss,
unfortunately like unexpectedloss kind of not an unexpected
loss for older adults passingaway, not an unexpected loss for
(15:19):
older adults passing away, butalmost always if not all of them
, were not prepared for theirstate for their will for all
this, and it has been such amess to see like my family,
close family and acquaintanceskind of go through that struggle
.
So I just wanted to say that Ireally appreciate that what
(15:40):
you're doing here.
So a session, I guessessentially what my design is is
.
You know I get to know who I'mworking with.
We always go through.
You know what are the needs,how do we tailor, what your
goals are, how do we get there?
Do you have things in yourhouse that are accessible, maybe
things that are not accessible?
(16:00):
I always encourage a homesafety evaluation as well, which
I always which I do, I includeis assessing the, the exercise
room, wherever the computer isgoing to be, just to ensure that
you know we're practicingsafely.
And then, if there's acaregiver involved, including
them and kind of talking aboutthat as well.
(16:21):
And so yeah, there's, there's,um, the thing with my work is
that there's varying levels ofmobility, and you know that
includes do they have a mobilityaid?
Are they using a walker?
Do they live alone?
Um, is there a caregiver?
Do they want the caregiverpresent?
Um, you know, is it a a gender?
Do some people are feel feelcomfortable with someone present
(16:43):
, someone not present?
You know, so there's.
There are different aspects anddifferent levels of mobility in
the sense of do they need help?
Are they going to be okay whenthey're alone?
What are they able to dowithout me there, physically
there, and without a caregiveras well?
So different aspects that a lotof people don't think about,
but we go through that in detailin the as well.
So different aspects that a lotof people don't think about,
(17:04):
but we go through that in detailin the first session and then,
after that, we start to.
We, you know, we meet, we planto meet, depending on the
treatment plan, and then fromthere, we always record and it
gets sent to to them.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
And I appreciate that you incorporate the caregivers.
I think that's really smart.
What is the average age, ortypical age, of the folks that
you're working with?
Speaker 2 (17:29):
Yes, so it does start with the 65 and up.
The typical age that I workwith is around 70 to 78.
I've had some older clients,but I would say the range
typically starts around 70smid-70s.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
This is going to be a difficult question and I'm not
sure if it's something thatyou've been able to incorporate,
but one of the things we knowabout our clients often they
have some event, they need toget stronger, they need to get
those skills back, and whatcomplicates it is if they have
(18:09):
some memory loss or dementia.
Do you ever have clients thatyou work with that also are
experiencing some memory loss ordementia?
Speaker 2 (18:19):
Thank you for asking and I thank you for setting it
up in such a beautiful way.
I I personally haven't had aworked with.
Excuse me, let me take thatback.
I have worked but not paid work.
Um, okay, and it's settingwhere a client has experience is
experiencing dementia,alzheimer's.
(18:39):
However, I have personalexperience and academic
experience working with with anindividual who is starting to
experience that.
So I can't say that I've beenin memory care, but I do have
experience.
I understand what the cyclesare.
I understand you know ifthere's a trigger, what to do,
how to back that up.
I do think that it's stillimportant that they get their
(19:02):
movement.
However, there is it's, youknow it is going to be more of a
repetition rather than aprogression of of gaining
movement or gaining strength andsuch.
I don't.
I'm not saying that it'simpossible, I'm just saying that
it is.
It's a different, it's adifferent treatment plan, so
(19:22):
it's part of it.
Speaker 1 (19:24):
Yeah, well, that's interesting and yeah, it's
definitely more challenging.
We see this with our clientssometimes that they've had a
fall or something like that andthen they go for therapy,
whether it be physical therapyor occupational therapy or
whatever, and it becomes verychallenging and almost to the
(19:44):
extent that sometimes they justwon't participate if there is
memory issues, and so it isunfortunate.
But I agree with you 100% thatit's still so important and
movement, and you know, eveninteraction.
You'd mentioned about one ofyour clients that just needed
(20:05):
that interaction too, and Ithink all of that is very
important to maintain, you know,a healthier lifestyle.
I never say, you know that wecan always return to at a
certain age.
We can't always return tocomplete and perfect health, but
we can be healthier.
It can't be great, but it canbe better.
Speaker 2 (20:25):
Yes, yes, absolutely.
And something to add here isthat, for anyone listening who
may be dealing with a new onsetof memory loss or someone in
their immediate circle, whatI've found and something so
beautiful is both mygrandmothers actually had
Alzheimer's, and both of them.
(20:45):
What they both loved to do themost and I got to do with them
was just a simple take them outfor a walk.
And one of my grandmotherseventually the dementia got to a
point where she was no longerable to walk.
So even then you can awheelchair or a walker, a mobile
walker with a chair, afour-wheel walker, the
(21:09):
experience outside for them, forsomeone who is in later stages
of dementia and Alzheimer's,it's a new experience every time
.
So, while we've been on thesame route, for them, because
there are aspects that theydon't remember, it's a new walk.
It's almost like a child goingthrough like a candy store and
then going to a new candy store,right.
So it's a beautiful experienceto be with them in that aspect
(21:34):
of they might not be moving asmuch, especially if they're in
the wheelchair, but they'regetting outside, they're getting
the companionship and they'realso being stimulated by the
environment.
So that, I think, adds to,while it's not movement, it's
still a sense of health.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
You just triggered a memory of mine from when I was a
small child and my grandfather.
So I'm in Michigan and mygrandfather lived in Michigan
his whole life and there's aparticularly beautiful falls
called Tukwamunan Falls in avery remote area of Michigan and
he had never been there and itwas one of his things that he
(22:13):
always wanted to be there.
But now he didn't have thatphysical capability and it is a
trail and it's not an overlyrough trail, but it's a trail.
It's not paved I don't know ifit is now, but at the time it
was not and so we got a littlechair and a walker, like you had
mentioned, and he would walkabout 10 feet and then sit down,
(22:33):
take a rest, walk about 10 feet, sit down, take a rest.
So he got to see the falls andI thought that was really cool.
It's an example of how importantthis type of thing is.
Even when somebody doesn't havethat ability to walk the mile
to the falls, they might be ableto take a few hours and still
enjoy it.
We, you know, people werewalking by and they would talk
(22:54):
to him and they'd say, oh, thisis great that you're coming up
here, and it was just a veryenjoyable experience, to the
extent that I still remember it,you know, probably 45 years
later.
Speaker 2 (23:05):
Yes, yes, and those are the moments that makes me
feel so happy to be in this workneed to be a younger generation
, just everyone, to bringawareness to the beauty that is
(23:28):
around an aging population, anaging community.
You know, I live in Belgium nowand it's a big bike community
and I see older adults who areprobably well in their 80s still
riding a bike and it's so cooland they're out there, they're
having their coffee.
I've seen a few times and ithas just.
It just always opens my heart,these beautiful seniors who are
(23:56):
it's cobblestone.
It's like you know, very Europe.
They are walking in the rainbecause it's culture.
They're walking in the rain withtheir walker and they are going
for it and they just like theywill take their time.
And it might take them to yourpoint, they might take them a
couple hours, but they arerelentless and they will keep
going.
And I just think that thatexperience, that fervor, that
(24:17):
drive is so inspiring.
And so I always tell peoplearound me like hey, have you
seen a senior today?
What can you do to help them?
It's so simple to be like hey,can I hold an umbrella for you?
And that memory will stick withyou.
So I appreciate you sharingyour story.
Speaker 1 (24:36):
Now do you do mostly one-on-one.
In other words, if there was anorganization that wanted to
have you do some work with themand it was a group of seniors,
let's say an unassisted livingtype setting or something like
that, would you be able to dothat also?
Or you do primarily one-on-one?
Speaker 2 (24:58):
Yes, it's a great question you ask.
I haven't had this question.
I primarily do one-on-oneremotely and I haven't done a
group setting remotely, so I cando it.
I actually used to work in manyassisted living communities
over my years of experience andthat's always fun.
I had a great experience withgetting creative with group
(25:21):
classes.
There is all levels, so youjust kind of go with the flow
with it.
Um, remotely, I haven't quitedone that, but I don't think
that it would be challenging.
Speaker 1 (25:31):
Yeah, so for folks that are interested in learning
more about your services,learning more about you, what's
the best way to get ahold of you?
What's the best way to interactwith you?
Speaker 2 (25:42):
Yes, I have a one-stop shop.
It is movementinfo, so insteadofcom it's info, and movement is
spelled with a U, so for anyonewho was like, that doesn't make
any sense, it's the.
French way.
It is a spell movement inFrench, so it's M O U V E M E N
(26:03):
T dot, oh, and let's repeat.
Speaker 1 (26:07):
Go ahead, please.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
I was going to say you just you find everything
there.
You can find out.
There's a chat button that goesdirectly to me.
You can email me.
I have all my free YouTubevideos on there.
They're, like you know, at homeexercises, or all my articles
that I've done for forpublications, podcasts, you name
it.
So everything is justsimplified.
It's on that website.
Speaker 1 (26:29):
So I'm just going to repeat that because we want to
make sure people spell it right.
It's M-O-U-V-E, m-e-n-t, dot.
I-n-f-o.
Is that right, correct?
Okay, and I'm glad to hear thatyou have the YouTube videos.
I think that I encourageeverybody to check that out.
Check out her YouTube videos,make sure you like her YouTube
videos, because I think you'redoing great work and I really
(26:52):
appreciate you coming on todayand helping explain some of this
to us.
Speaker 2 (26:56):
Thank you, Bob.
I really appreciate it andlikewise, keep doing what you're
doing, and it's people like uswho are, you know.
I personally like to believethat we're really making an
influence for that drop in theocean that's rippling out.
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (27:11):
So if you've enjoyed this podcast and you want to
hear more, don't forget tosubscribe to Advice From your
Advocates, where you cansubscribe at pretty much any
podcast.
Anywhere you listen to podcasts, or you can go to our website
and YouTube if you want toactually see us.
Most people probably justlisten, but don't forget to
subscribe so that way you getnotices of all the future
(27:32):
podcasts.
So thank you for joining us andwe'll talk to you next time,
thanks, thanks for listening.
To learn more, visitmanorlawgroupcom.
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