DAYTON, Ohio (WKEF) — The YMCA of Greater Dayton has received a Del Mar Grant for Older Adults from the Dayton Foundation.
The organization says this grant is to aid in the launch of the new program, Y on the Fly: Golden Hour, a new mobile wellness initiative designed to bring health and social engagement opportunities directly to older adults experiencing isolation.
The grant is also to help expand the YMCA’s mobile outreach, allowing staff to deliver customized wellness programming to seniors in assisted living communities, independent living residences, rehabilitation centers and memory care environments, removing transportation and mobility barriers that often prevent participation.
Dale Brunner, President and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Dayton released a statement saying:
Too many older adults face challenges related to mobility, transportation and social isolation. With Y on the Fly: Golden Hour, we’re able to bring meaningful connection and wellness directly to them—helping improve not just physical health, but overall quality of life.
The YMCA says the program will be held during the fall and winter months, a period where inactivity and isolation tend to increase. Using the YMCA’s mobile Y on the Fly vehicle, trained staff will visit multiple senior living communities weekly, offering tailored activities such as:
Chair-based fitness and guided movementLight physical activity and gamesCognitive enrichment exercisesSocial engagement opportunities
The program is structured to be flexible and inclusive, supporting older adults across a wide range of physical and cognitive abilities.
For more information on the program, visit the Dayton YMCA’s website.