Staying active has always been important to Mary Ann Jurgens. Long before moving to Friendship Village of Bloomington in Minnesota, she enjoyed walking, yoga and regular visits to local fitness centers. So when she and her husband began considering a move to senior living, access to high-quality wellness facilities was an important part of the decision.
What Mary Ann discovered at Friendship Village was more than a place to exercise. She found a team committed to helping residents move through life with strength, confidence and independence.
Mary Ann moved to Friendship Village with her husband as his Parkinson’s disease progressed and his care needs increased. During a season when much of her energy was focused on caring for him, she also began working with Friendship Village’s therapy and fitness teams to protect her own health and wellbeing.
“My therapist found muscles I had long neglected and patiently brought all of me to a level I hadn’t functioned at in years,” Mary Ann recalls.
Today, Mary Ann continues practicing yoga, working out independently and turning to Friendship Village fitness instructors, like Brandon McMillan, when she needs additional guidance. The results show up not only during a workout, but in everyday life.
“My stability definitely has gotten better,” she says. “I’m stronger than I was.”
She has also noticed something equally important: “I feel physically stronger, but I also feel mentally stronger.”
That connection between physical ability and confidence is at the heart of Friendship Village’s approach to wellness.
“When people come down here to exercise, it’s not just about moving the body,” Brandon says. “Our goal is to work on strength, balance, mobility, but also confidence in your own body.”
With a bachelor’s degree in exercise science along with certifications in personal training and senior fitness, Brandon works with residents across Friendship Village, including those in assisted living, memory care and skilled nursing. He sees firsthand how much aging adults remain capable of achieving.
“People underestimate what they’re capable of,” he says. “They underestimate how much progress someone can make at any age.”
Friendship Village’s wellness offerings are designed to meet residents wherever they are. The fitness team offers five to six classes each day, with options ranging in intensity and incorporating strength, balance, floor exercises, aquatics and more. Residents have access to the fitness center, pool and individualized orientations designed around their personal interests and goals.
For some, the goal might be improving balance. For another resident, it might be building enough cardiovascular endurance for an upcoming trip. Others simply want to maintain the strength that allows them to continue doing everyday activities independently.
Brandon says some of the most meaningful signs of progress show up not during a workout, but in everyday life. Residents are often excited to tell him when something that had become difficult suddenly feels a little easier, whether that is climbing a flight of stairs or closing a car door. While these may seem like small accomplishments, each one represents greater strength, mobility and independence.
“It’s those little things that really make the biggest difference,” he says.
That individualized support is especially valuable as residents’ needs change. Friendship Village’s fitness professionals can help residents transition from therapy into an ongoing fitness routine, providing continuity, encouragement and accountability as they work toward their next goal.
For Mary Ann, the experience has reinforced something much larger about this stage of life. Moving to Friendship Village meant leaving a home she and her husband had carefully created, but she has come to see that a home is only one part of the life you carry forward.
“It’s all about the people. It’s not about the house,” she says. “You pack your memories with you. You just bring them along, and you can still enjoy them and make new memories.”
At Friendship Village, staying well is part of making those new memories possible. Through expert guidance, thoughtfully designed facilities and opportunities tailored to residents at different skill levels, wellness becomes about more than exercise. It is about continuing to build the strength and confidence to live life as fully and independently as possible.
Ready to see what life at Friendship Village could look like for you or someone you love? Visit friendshipvillagemn.com to learn more about our community and schedule a personal tour.
