Who Is Going To Work For 1 Hour a Week?

Leading an outdoor class at a senior living facility

“Who is going to work for one hour a week?” This was the question posed to me by the director of a non-profit who was looking to restart outdoor classes for older adults. Post-pandemic he was faced with the challenge of finding dedicated leaders willing to lead the parkour-based fall prevention program. Prior to the pandemic there was a lively community of seniors regularly gathered at a local park to participate in the program. However, post-pandemic, locating individuals willing to commit an hour a week to lead these classes became increasingly difficult.

My initial thought gravitated towards retirees—individuals not driven by financial necessity but motivated by the prospect of engaging in something enjoyable, social, and fulfilling in an outdoor setting.

This predicament isn’t isolated. Numerous organizations such as YMCAs, senior centers, and community centers want to offer similar programs to older adults, promoting fall prevention and an active lifestyle. However, a common hurdle persists: a scarcity of instructors available to guide these initiatives. Even with substantial grants being awarded to agencies for fall prevention programs, the lack of qualified instructors impedes the execution of these plans.

In many cases, prospective instructors are required to possess fitness professional certifications, undergo specific training in fall prevention programs over a weekend, and commit to teaching sessions lasting one hour, two to three times per week. This demand poses a question: who possesses the time and inclination to fulfill these criteria? Retirees, seeking meaningful engagements and eager to acquire new skills, might be the untapped resource to fill this gap.

I haven’t seen any deliberate efforts being made to reach out to this demographic and propose an “encore career” in health and fitness. Leading exercise classes, with its part-time nature, intrinsic rewards, and the pressing demand, presents an appealing opportunity for active and fit retirees seeking purposeful involvement in their community in their post-career phase.

This untapped potential has prompted my initiative to seek out active retirees and encourage their involvement in the health and fitness field. It’s a mutually beneficial endeavor for the retirees and the community in need of dedicated professionals.