Assess from the Start
January 1, 2025
Starting a wellness program without first conducting a thorough assessment is like setting off on a journey without a map. This starting off point, provides a baseline understanding of your health status and establishes what your goals are. Another crucial part of an initial assessment is considering your interests. This helps design a program that you will enjoy and keep up with as well. Here are some more reasons to assess from the start:
Avoid Injury:
By assessing your physical fitness level, you can avoid pushing too hard, which can lead to injury or burnout. If you are not accustomed to exercise and/or have underlying health conditions this can be dangerous. It is important to find out where you are and progress slowly. This will also make reaching your goals more attainable.
Motivation and Accountability:
Clear goals set during the assessment provide a sense of direction and accomplishment. You are more likely to stay committed if you see measurable improvements along the way. Your starting off point will help you see your progress clearly over time.
Holistic Approach:
Wellness is not just physical; it includes mental, emotional, and social well-being. A comprehensive assessment can help address these areas, identifying stress levels, lifestyle habits, and emotional factors that may affect the success of your wellness program.
Building a Foundation:
A thoughtful assessment can help you build a sustainable wellness routine, rather than a quick-fix program that leads to burnout or frustration. The changes you are making are for life. Aim for quality of life over any superficial goals. Steer clear from taking measures that overly restrict your lifestyle./
Evidence-Based Adjustments:
It is also important to reassess throughout the program to make necessary adjustments to your wellness plan. This real time data will help you make choices on how to progress or regress your workload. This revaluation is key to keep track of your evolving health goals or notice any conditions that may arise. Here at Pisgah Valley Retirement Community all of our residents meet with qualified Senior Fitness Specialists to complete a baseline assessment before joining the Wellness Center and the many offerings on campus. This is an important benefit of all our Residents and Priority Partners prior to participating in the INSPIRE Wellness program. The Silver Sneakers’ assessment tool is used for all our fitness tests. Take a look here to see a few of the assessments involved and to learn about what each test is evaluating.