How weightlifter Precious McKenzie is keeping his retirement village active during lockdowns
Written for Stuff by Colleen Hawkes on the 14th of November 2021
Kiwi weightlifting icon Precious McKenzie has been a resident of Settlers Lifestyle Village for more than a decade – and a coach.
Commonwealth champion weightlifter Precious McKenzie moved to a retirement village more than a decade ago, to be closer to family on Auckland's North Shore.
Precious McKenzie leads an exercise class at Settlers
Not surprisingly he loves being in the gym, and his well-attended twice-weekly aerobics classes are a highlight.
Covid-19 lockdowns put pressure on every community, and lifestyle retirement villages are no exception.
The indoor spaces at his village, Settlers, were closed during lockdown, so at in level 3, McKenzie has been taking exercise classes outdoors.
“Usually we have 25 to 30 people, but we can only have 10, and we have to be outdoors, but we don’t have to wear masks,” he says.
“This morning another couple joined us, and they are both nearly 90 years old. We took it nice and easy.”
Studies internationally have shown that regular exercise reduces the risk of illnesses like heart attacks and strokes, compared to people who are sedentary. Our physical activity tends to decline with age, but many experts believe the benefits and risks are even more potent for older people.
The Ministry of Health recommends moderate aerobic activity on five days per week for at least 30 minutes per day for those over 65. Even if you can't participate in activities the way you used to, getting aerobic exercise, and improving balance, flexibility, and strength will help you stay healthy and fit, according to Age Concern.
Precious McKenzie is in his element lifting weights
After his class McKenzie was hoping to be able to visit his wife Elizabeth, who is in a care home “about five minutes down the road”.
He has only been able to see her once in nearly 11 weeks, and that was three weeks ago, when he was able to wave at her through a window.
His favourite village activity outside lockdown? “Lots of socialising and happy hours,” he says. “There is even a get-together for men who have lost their wives. They bring us together for a meeting once a week. No one is isolated – you live longer if you aren’t lonely.”
Outdoor exercise classes not only help physical fitness, but also improve mental health and social interaction.
Under Alert Levels 3 and 4, retirement villages are largely closed to visitors. Terry Middlemost, CEO at Premier Lifestyle Villages, which runs Fairview and Settlers Lifestyle Villages in Albany, Auckland, says isolation has been a big concern in Auckland.
“In the Covid era, we all acknowledge it isn’t easy to stave off loneliness and feelings of isolation along with the virus,” Middlemost says. “Age Concern Auckland chief executive Kevin Lamb was quite right to raise the issue of the digital divide contributing to difficulty among older folk of getting what they need from the outside world during lockdown.”
Settlers Lifestyle Village, recently voted the Best Large Retirement/Lifestyle Village in the Aged Advisor People’s Choice Awards, encourages residents to have an active lifestyle.
To protect against feelings of isolation and loneliness in the first lockdown, in March 2020, Premier created a system for those who live alone which allows them to merge their bubble with one other person. Even though movement is restricted, no one had to be alone unless they chose to be.
Fairview and Settlers have also introduced cardio drumming (between lockdowns), which was inspired by a YouTube video. “One of our staff bought drumsticks, gave them to some residents – many in their 90s and wanting to remain active safely – and they were thrilled to try it,” says Middlemost.
“Now participants will reschedule other appointments because they don’t want to miss out on a session, and a lot of our resident drummers have told us it releases negative feelings, much like any other form of exercise can do.”
Staff baked Kia Kaha cookies for village residents, with the contactless delivery a way to check in on how they are managing during lockdown.
Meanwhile, the pastry chef at Fairview and Settlers Lifestyle Villages recently whipped up 650 brownies for contactless drop-off at residents’ doors during lockdown. A few days later, cookies decorated with a Kia Kaha message were followed with fudge, and cupcakes in the following weeks.
Middlemost says the responses of residents were so cheering, and it gave everyone, including the bakers and staff, a real boost to know residents felt cared for.
“People come to retirement villages for security and social life, and at a time when the latter is heavily circumscribed, it gave them a pick-me-up – beyond the sugar high – to know others are thinking about them. It was a happy way to check in while maintaining safeguards.”
The Ministry of Health's guidelines on exercise for the over-65s:
Limit sedentary behaviour and be as physically active as possible
Consult a health practitioner before starting or increasing physical activity
Start off slowly and build up to the recommended physical activity levels
Aim to do aerobic activity on five days per week for at least 30 minutes per day if the activity is of moderate intensity, 15 minutes per day if it is of vigorous intensity, or doing a mixture of moderate and vigorous intensity, in sessions of at least 10 minutes at a time
Aim to do three sessions of flexibility and balance activities, and two sessions of muscle-strengthening activities per week.
Find some ideas for exercises you can do at home on the Live Stronger For Longer website.