Health Systems Group provides fitness consulting and management services to Older Adult centres.

HSG’s Approach to Senior Fitness
Senior Fitness – Consulting Services
Senior Fitness – Program Management Services

HSG's Approach to Senior Fitness.

Aging accompanied by a sedentary lifestyle, is very much like a long version of being bedridden. Decreases in muscle mass, flexibility, strength, range of motion, heart/lung function and balance are accelerated. In addition, the body is left more susceptible to illness and various chronic lifestyle diseases. MOVEMENT, when appropriately ADAPTED, is a powerful antidote. Start moving and your ability to move improves. Walk, dance, stretch, build strength, play games that require physical motion and the impacts due to inactive aging slowly reverse.

Along with this improved ability to move, many other positive changes take place. Insulin sensitivity and blood sugar levels regulate and become more stable, stored fat is reduced, blood pressure comes down and the heart gets stronger. The vascular system starts building collateral arteries around blocked vessels, improving blood flow to the heart, the brain and other organs. The body's repair mechanisms speed up, healing time improves, the immune system gets stronger; one gets sick less often and recovers more quickly. Add to this, the positive impact that graduated exercise has on mental, emotional, social and even spiritual health and one can readily appreciate the role that Adaptive Exercise plays in contributing to the well-being of Aging Adults.

HSG believes that no matter what age or stage in life, fitness and wellness programs contribute to peoples’ quality of life and bring a more positive culture to the communities that they are connected to. As a consequence, our Adaptive Fitness services extend to Senior Fitness Consulting and Program Management with retirement facilities, assisted living centres and various other forms of progressive care centres for the aging population. Specialized fitness programs for seniors can also be designed and delivered in other public and private facilities such as community fitness and recreation centres, commercial fitness clubs, and even corporate fitness facilities.

Senior Fitness Consulting Services

Feasibility Studies
Facility Design
Project Development
Operational Reviews

Feasibility Studies

Before building a fitness and recreation facility in an Older Adult Centre, owners and investors should consider the kind of program that will really enhance the well-being of their prospective residents. HSG specializes in professional and comprehensive feasibility studies that determine exactly the type of facility and equipment to complement their project.

HSG analyzes the size and proposed scope of a facility; the target market; the capital and on-going operation costs and revenue streams. Numerous steps are involved in this consulting process, including:

• Analysis of owners’ and investors’ business objectives;
• Determination of the most effective amount of space required for fitness & wellness programming;
• Forecasting the cost of facility programs and services;
• Analysis of the intended target market, including demographic features such as age ranges, gender distribution and economic capacity;
• Analysis of competitors in relevant market areas by examining comparable facilities, price points and services;
• Development of an initial, conceptual plan including space required and equipment specifications;
• Draft of a preliminary operating and staffing plan;
• Propose a preliminary marketing and promotion strategy and estimate associated costs;
• Complete a three-year preliminary business plan to determine project scope and viability.

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Facility Design

HSG has worked with Canada's leading architects and interior designers to develop fitness, sport, and recreation facilities as large as 80,000 square feet. Our space planning expertise emphasizes operational efficiency. Consulting Services include:

• Estimation of space requirements and configuration based on available space.
• Assistance in developing space design plans.*
• Assistance in interior design specifications.*
• Assistance in facility design and layout to ensure operational efficiency.*
• Guidance on technical specification requirements (e.g. HVAC, electrical and lighting requirements, specialized flooring, etc.)
• Specifications for Adaptive Fitness area requirements (including weight training and cardiovascular areas, studios for aerobic and specialty exercise classes, fitness assessment rooms, etc.)
• Specifications for aquatics facilities.
• Specifications for special area requirements (massage and physiotherapy areas, locker/change rooms, etc.)
• Furnishing specifications (e.g. furniture, artwork, signage, etc.)
• Computer system recommendations (hardware, software, integration, etc.)
• Specification of audiovisual requirements.
• Security and safety considerations and design guidance.
• Contingency plans for expansion and contraction of facilities.

* HSG has played an advisory role in collaboration with clients' architects and/or interior designers in over 150 projects.

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Project Development

HSG's Consulting Service takes an approved business plan from the concept design phase right through to the centre's grand opening. Developing a great adapted fitness and recreation centre as part of an older adult complex takes considerable know-how. HSG brings over three decades of experience to the business and operating plan development process, which includes:

• Facility Completion & Equipment Installation – Working with key stakeholders, HSG brings the physical facility to a state of completion, ready to open. This includes the selection and installation of all equipment;
• Operational Planning – HSG confirms basic operational procedures with the owner(s) and/or stakeholders. HSG then works with the owners and stakeholders collaboratively to develop the best operational plan;
• Business Plan Refinement – HSG refines the preliminary business plan developed during the feasibility stage by confirming all assumptions with the owners and key stakeholders. A more detailed plan for the first year of operation is then developed;
• Program Planning – HSG develops all operational procedures and standards, including: appropriate programming, scheduling, pricing, staffing and complete operating considerations prior to opening.

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Operational Reviews

Implementing industry best practices lays the cornerstone for superior performance. HSG has developed a suite of operational evaluation instruments for Adapted Fitness facilities to ensure each HSG-managed project maintains best practices during day-to-day operations.

These instruments are used to:

• Provide consulting guidelines for the development and operation of new facilities.
• Provide evaluation instruments for assessing existing operations and comparing them to industry best practices.
• Conduct internal audits on HSG's managed projects.

Our operational evaluation instruments measure:

• Resident / Client Services – including the resident / client management process and systems, communication, customer service standards, retention programs, etc.
• Sales & Marketing Systems – including strategic planning, market positioning, sales process and promotion systems
• Staffing Processes – including recruitment, interviewing methods, hiring processes, orientation, training & development and performance appraisal procedures.
• Administration Systems – including legal precautions, risk management, emergency management, safety and security considerations, financial processes and computer applications.
• Program Management – including program planning processes, and all the core fitness, recreation and wellness programming areas.
• Facility Management – including all on-going facility cleaning and maintenance procedures.
• Equipment Management – including all cleaning and maintenance considerations.

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Senior Fitness Program Management Services

Program Promotion
Program Management

With our Adaptive Fitness services for organizations serving seniors, HSG helps our clients attract and satisfy customers/residents/members by building confidence and commitment through our innovative programs and professional management practices.

Recognizing that attentive resident care is a key distinction between Older Adult Centres in today's market, HSG ensures that customer focus is a fundamental part of each of our managed operations through a comprehensive customer service system. Our overall aim is always to help individuals improve their quality of life; increasing their vitality and resilience, while ensuring positive outcomes for the owners / stakeholders.

We set strategic and annual plans that meet the objectives of the client / owner, and then direct and support our high performance, on-site program management team to achieve the results. As professional managers, HSG has developed an integrated system of management practices that ensure operational integrity and program excellence.

Program Promotion

HSG effectively promotes the Senior Fitness projects we manage. Through our wealth of experience, we know how to achieve results. Our approach includes:

• Developing an initial promotion plan;
• Designing effective promotional campaigns for ongoing resident engagement;
• Implementing ongoing incentive programs to enhance the frequency of facility utilization and program adherence by residents;
• Adapting promotion programs which have been used successfully in other HSG managed projects to optimize resident participation.
• Implementing programs which also engage families of residents, and OAC staff.

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Program Management

We design and deliver programs that engage residents, and provide the encouragement and support seniors need. Our innovative and state-of-the-art program expertise and customer focus keep residents involved. These programs include:

• Fitness assessments and personal counselling
• One-on-one training
• Supervised small group training
• Specialized resistance training classes
• Therapeutic Pilates • Tai Chi for Balance
• Restorative Yoga
• Therapeutic Aquatic exercise
• Guided Meditation
• Lifestyle & Wellness education
• Themed events
• Health and Fitness Incentive and motivation programs
• Therapeutic Recreation programs (such as gardening, word games, book clubs and a whole host of adapted intellectual activities to stimulate mental, emotional, social and spiritual well-being

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