NASHVILLE, Tenn.,
Sept. 14, 2021 /PRNewswire/
-- SilverSneakers® by Tivity
Health®, the nation's leading community fitness program
for older Americans, announced today the national winner of its
17th annual SilverSneakers Member of the Year Award,
previously the Swanson Inspiration Award. This year's recipient is
Metairie, Louisiana resident
Margaret Masters, who, at
98-years-old, is recognized for her positive impact on the lives of
others through health, physical activity, and community, either
virtually or in the gym.
Margaret has been a loyal SilverSneakers member for
ten years, regularly attending SilverSneakers Dance,
SilverSneakers Stability and yoga classes through her local Humana
Neighborhood Center and is a Humana Medicare Advantage member. Her
love of movement and dancing earned her the nickname "Dancing
Queen" from her classmates. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,
Margaret has stayed active through SilverSneakers virtual
classes.
On August 29, life for Margaret
and millions of others changed drastically when Hurricane Ida made
landfall on the Louisiana coast.
Margaret's home was damaged, but she was safe as she rode out the
storm at a neighbor's house. Days later, her fitness instructor and
SilverSneakers Instructor of the Year finalist, Deana Lejarza resumed Zoom classes powered by a
generator to help her members stay virtually connected and healthy.
Some members evacuated to neighboring states, but everyone was
appreciative to virtually connect again with their SilverSneakers
friends.
"Margaret Masters represents a
great group of Member of the Year nominees that inspire and
motivate others to improve their health through their
SilverSneakers community of fitness and friends, and we are proud
to honor her as SilverSneakers' Member of the Year," said
Richard Ashworth, president and CEO
of Tivity Health. "Margaret has shown such tremendous strength and
dedication to maintaining good health in the midst of what
continues to be a challenging year. She inspires her fellow
SilverSneakers members to do the same and is a shining example of
staying fit at any age through physical activity and social
engagement."
"Humana member Margaret Masters
doesn't let anything slow her down or stop her dancing," said
George Renaudin, SVP, Medicare
Markets, Economics, and Provider Experience for Humana. "As soon as
SilverSneakers classes were available online in 2020, Margaret
signed up, mastered Zoom and rekindled friendships with her fellow
classmates. She's a true 'Dancing Queen' and inspiration when it
comes to staying active and having a healthy outlook on life."
Since the pandemic, many SilverSneakers members have
transitioned to virtual classes offered live and on-demand to help
them connect and keep active while also staying safe.
SilverSneakers currently offers more than 3,000 live virtual
classes each week in addition to access to 16,000 in-person fitness
locations nationwide. SilverSneakers members have logged more than
1 million SilverSneakers Live visits this year.
"Humana member Margaret is deeply committed to a healthy, active
lifestyle regardless of age," said Theresa
Andrews, Associate Vice President for Humana's Neighborhood
Centers. "Although we miss seeing her and the rest of the
SilverSneakers classes in person, we are thrilled by how many of
our New Orleans-area Neighborhood
Center regulars are keeping up with their fitness routines online.
SilverSneakers Instructor of the Year finalist Deana Lejarza's Zoom classes are filled with
Metairie Center regulars like Margaret, and we couldn't be prouder
of them."
Margaret will be honored alongside nine other SilverSneakers
members who were selected as finalists for the award. A public
online vote determined the national winner. Read more about the
SilverSneakers Member of the Year winner and finalists:
SilverSneakers.com/MOYAward.
Currently, more than 17 million Americans are eligible for
SilverSneakers at no additional cost through Medicare Advantage,
group retiree, and Medicare Supplement plans. SilverSneakers
encourages members to participate in health and fitness programs
through a wide variety of offerings that include strength training,
aerobic workouts, and flexibility exercises designed specifically
for a Medicare-eligible population. SilverSneakers members have
free access to classes for all fitness levels led by SilverSneakers
instructors, as well as opportunities to engage socially to help
achieve optimal health.
About SilverSneakers
SilverSneakers®, by
Tivity Health®, is the nation's leading community
fitness program for Medicare eligible Americans. The program was
founded in 1992 and is available to more than 17 million Americans
through many Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Supplement
carriers, and group retiree plans. For more information, to check
eligibility or to enroll in the program or sign up for a
SilverSneakers newsletter, go to silversneakers.com.
About Tivity Health
Tivity Health® Inc.
(Nasdaq: TVTY) is a leading provider of healthy life-changing
solutions, including SilverSneakers®, Prime®
Fitness, WholeHealth Living® and Wisely Well™. We are
focused on becoming the modern destination for healthy living by
expanding beyond fitness as a digital engagement platform company.
We are continuously developing the SilverSneakers suite of digital
offerings and services to provide seniors with everything they need
to maintain and improve their health, including physical activity,
social connection, community involvement, volunteer opportunities
and mental enrichment. Our goal is to partner with payers and
service providers to enable a personalized, interactive, and
intuitive experience to offer the right solutions to each member.
We deliver solutions that help adults feel better, work better and
live better, and improve health outcomes while reducing healthcare
costs. Learn more at www.tivityhealth.com.
Media Contact:
Debbie
Jacobson
Tivity Health
(480) 444-5204
Debbie.jacobson@tivityhealth.com
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SOURCE Tivity Health