20 | FEBRUARY 8 • 2024 J
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hysical activity is 
important at any 
age, providing many 
physical, mental, social and 
emotional benefits. For older 
adults who tend not to ven-
ture outdoors as much in the 
winter, finding ways to stay 
active during the cold weather 
months is especially import-
ant. 
 According to the National 
Council on Aging, regular 
aerobic and weightbearing 
exercise supports balance 
during everyday activities, 
improves sleep and cardio-
vascular health by regulating 
blood pressure, reduces pain, 
and helps prevent medical 
conditions like diabetes and 
stroke. 
Jewish Senior Life residents 
Adele Nodler and Harry 
Doren work out regular-
ly in the exercise room at 
Hechtman Apartments and 
take advantage of their short 
indoor commute. 

“You’ve got to keep the 
body moving, which keeps 
the mind working in the right 
direction as well,” said Nodler, 
who exercises every day and 
attends group exercise class-
es several times a week at 
Hechtman Apartments. 
Tracey 
Proghovnick 
Edelstein, a 
licensed social 
worker with certi-
fications and train-
ing in gerontology, 
has been a passion-
ate advocate for 
Jewish Senior Life 
residents’ physical 
and mental health 
for almost 25 years.
“Isolation is a 
huge concern for older adults, 
so we plan a robust calendar 
of events all winter long to 
draw people out, including 
game and movie nights, read-
ers’ theater, beading classes, 
current events programs and 

so much more,” Proghovnick 
Edelstein said. “When it 
comes to exercising, it isn’t 
one size fits all. We provide 
options for all residents to 
help them maintain muscle 
mass and decrease atrophy, an 
important factor in fall pre-
vention.”
Fitness instruc-
tor Ada Bandalene 
taught exercise and 
swimming classes 
for more than 50 
years, volunteer-
ing her services 
for decades at 
the Fleischman 
Residence. Retired 
and now living at 
Meer Apartments, 
Bandalene contin-
ues to lead exercise classes 
and motivate her fellow res-
idents. Research shows that 
group exercise builds a sense 
of community, strengthens 
feelings of connectedness and 
keeps people accountable.

“Exercising brings people 
together socially and fosters 
a lot of growth and devel-
opment, regardless of age,” 
Bandalane said. “I teach lots 
of back and shoulder exercises 
and see definite improvements 
in class members’ gaits.”
At 1 p.m. on Feb. 13 at 
Meer Apartments (6760 
W. Maple Road, West 
Bloomfield), Jewish Senior 
Life is hosting a free “Take 
Winter in Stride” event for 
the community. Presenter 
Powerback Rehabilitation’s 
Molly Petreanu will offer tips 
for staying active in winter, 
preventing falls and more. 
Powerback Rehabilitation 
provides health and wellness 
services at Jewish Senior Life’s 
West Bloomfield and Oak 
Park campuses such as vitality 
checks, individualized health 
goal creations and exercise 
classes. To make a reservation, 
call (248) 592-5026 or go to 
info@jslmi.org. 

Jewish Senior Life ensures residents stay active this winter. 
Getting Physical

CAROLYN KRIEGER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS 

OUR COMMUNITY

PHOTOS COURTESY OF JSL 

Tracy Proghovnick 
Edelstein 

Hechtman Apartments 
residents Adele Nodler 
and Harry Doren work 
out year-round.

Meer resident 
Ada Bandalene 
teaches weekly 
exercise classes. 

