The Campbell County Senior Nutrition Education Assistant joined the LiveWell Newport Coalition in 2016. The mission was “to ignite an uprising within the community to build a movement toward a culture of health.” LiveWell Newport is part of LiveWell NKY: a regional effort of community-wide initiatives designed to improve the health of Northern Kentucky residents through changes in policy, systems, and environments. The focus is on achieving sustainable health goals by increasing physical activity, healthy eating, and tobacco-free environments. It is a collaboration with the Northern Kentucky Health Department, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, the YMCA, and multiple community partners.

Fast forward to 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic halted much of the organization's work. As it became safer to slowly reopen different facilities, the Newport coalition discussed which population in the community needed the most assistance. There were programs for school children and their families. The senior citizens were the most vulnerable of the Newport residents. 

According to the CDC, 8 out of 10 deaths due to COVID in the United States have been adults over the age of 65. With those numbers, it was obvious that seniors needed support in reclaiming a healthy lifestyle. Many seniors living in communities were afraid to leave their apartments and spent over a year feeling afraid and isolated. This lack of socializing combined with limited physical activity greatly increased the risk of serious accidents, illness, and overall decline.

The Newport LiveWell Coalition took steps to engage seniors in the community. With most residents being vaccinated, they were ready to step outside of their apartments. But after the world being paused for over a year, where do you begin? The LiveWell Coalition worked to offer virtual exercise programs, including Silver Sneakers to residents at Two Rivers Apartments. The classes were held right in the building to help reduce the stress of having to travel outside of their community.  LiveWell provided the necessary equipment, including hand weights, a resistance band, and an exercise ball for each participant to utilize for the class. 

Healthy Choices for Every Body classes were scheduled before the movement classes in order to change multiple health factors. As demonstrated using a national data collection system, 50% of participants reported making small changes in their daily lives to increase physical activity. 50% of participants also increased their consumption of fruits and vegetables. 100% reported being happy to be out of their apartments and connecting with other residents; and after being secluded for over a year, this was the greatest accomplishment.