The Personal Training and Group Exercise Training for Older Adults Program is suited for people who are interested in a career working with seniors and older adults in the health and fitness industry, for established fitness professionals who want advanced education in working with older adults, and for allied health and medical professionals from all fields who want to design specialized exercise and wellness programs for their older adult clients and patients. And if you're an exercise enthusiast over 50 yourself, this program will help you develop a personalized program to meet your own goals.

This certificate program includes:

• Examination of the social and physiological aspects of aging
• Current theories of aging
• Common conditions and diseases associated with aging
• The role of exercise in improving health, fitness, function, and quality of life in older adults
• Current recommendations for cardiovascular, flexibility, resistance, mobility, and balance training
• How to attract, serve, and retain the mature market by means of age-friendly facility design, equipment selection, and fitness management
• How to design safe and effective exercise programs for older adults by taking into consideration critical information such as a client's age, gender, health history, current health conditions, and exercise history

You can also choose to participate in an Optional Field Internship Program to get practical experience in the profession. Internships are six weeks, 60 hours long. Graduating students will be prepared for a career working with older adults at senior centers, medically based fitness facilities, retirement communities, YMCAs, JCCs, hospitals, community wellness programs, personal training studios, physical therapy clinics, long-term care facilities, corporate fitness centers, collegiate settings, and private and commercial health clubs.

The program is offered in partnership with the International Council on Active Aging (ICAA), the American Senior Fitness Association (SFA), the Aquatic Exercise Association (AEA), and Healthways SilverSneakers® Fitness Program. Certificate program graduates will receive a complimentary one-year membership to the ICAA, which includes registration discounts for the annual International Active Aging Conference. In addition, graduating students will receive preferred discounts for the SFA's certification exams (Senior Personal Trainer Certification or the Senior Fitness Instructor Certification), the AEA's certification exam (Aquatic Exercise Association Fitness Professional Certification), and for Healthways Instructor Accreditation for Older Adult Exercise.

Continuing Education Credits
The following national organizations and associations have approved each Personal Training and Group Exercise Training for Older Adults program  for CEC/CEU's:

• The SFA: 2.0 CEUs per program
• The Health and Fitness Professionals Association (HFPA): 30 CECs per program and 60 CECs for the Optional Field Internship
• The National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF): 10 CEUs per program
• The National Federation of Professional Trainers (NFPT): 1 CEC per program, equivalent to an entire six-month CEC requirement
• The National Strength Professional Association (NSPA): 2 CEUs per program

Upon registering, you're given an initial six months to complete this program.  Should you need more time beyond the six months, an extension of six months is available with a fee of $300. 

Upon completing the Personal Training and Group Exercise Training for Older Adults Program, you'll:

• Be prepared to work as a fitness trainer, manager or owner in the older adult market
• Identify and define predictors of successful aging and characteristics that relate to individual participation in physical activity programs
• Be able to design exercise programs for preventive health
• Understand how factors have converged to make the 50+ market extremely desirable for the fitness industry
• Know how to conduct an in-depth health history interview
• Be able to identify medication-related interactions during physical activity and know when to refer clients to a health professional

1. Socio-Physiological Aspects of Aging
   1. Psychosocial Aspects of Aging
   2. Musculoskeletal, Cardiovascular, and Metabolic Changes that Accompany Aging
   3. Nervous System, Cognitive, and Sensory Changes that Accompany Aging
   4. The Association Between Aging, Activity, and Disease
2. Designing Older Adult Exercise Programs
   1. Exercise Recommendations and Guidelines for Apparently Healthy Older Adults and Those With Chronic Diseases and Conditions
   2. Principles of Cardiovascular and Resistance Exercise and Flexibility
   3. Principles of Functional Exercise, Balance, Mobility, and Water Training
   4. How to Design Exercise Programs for Apparently Healthy Older Adults
3. Business Management and Administration for the Mature Market
   1. Business Opportunities in the Mature Market
   2. Marketing and Customer Service Principles
   3. Business Development Through Member Programs and Services
   4. How to Administer and Manage Age-Friendly Fitness Facilities or Wellness Centers
4. Exercise and Aging for Special Populations
   1. Screening, Health Assessments, and Fitness Testing
   2. Cardiovascular and Metabolic Chronic Disease Considerations for Exercise Program Design
   3. Musculoskeletal and Neurological Chronic Disease Considerations for Exercise Program Design
   4. Common Medications for Chronic Disease Conditions
5. Elective Program: Optional Field Internship in Senior Personal Training
   1. Intern for a total of six weeks/60 hours for a practical experience working with members at fitness facilities and health centers
   2. Network and interact with professionals in the health and fitness industry
   3. Develop a professional goal statement and review career opportunities
   4. Improve your ability to obtain employment or operate your own health and fitness facility

There are no specific prerequisites to enter this program, other than an Internet connection, an e-mail address, and basic computer knowledge. Students do need to receive CPR certification and approval by the program coordinator prior to beginning the Optional Field Internship Program.

This program is for you if you're interested in developing safe and effective exercise programs for older adults or training your staff to do so, and if you want to manage and market new programs to older adults. This program is also suitable for companies that require the certificate program as a professional development program for employees . And this program is definitely for you if you're a senior or older adult exercise enthusiast who wants to learn more about exercise program design, health, and wellness.

This program can be taken from a PC.  It is not recommended for MAC users.  It is compatible with the Windows XP and later operating systems and IE 7 and later browsers.  Technical requirements include, but are not limited to, having Internet access with a 56K modem (but it's highly recommended that you have DSL or high-speed cable Internet access), 64 MB system RAM, 200 MB free hard-disk space memory or sufficient storage, reliable e-mail account access, CD-ROM/DVD capabilities, and a reliable Internet provider. Some individual programs may have additional software or hardware requirements.

These materials will be provided by ed2go:

• Physical Activity Instruction of Older Adults
• Anatomy for Strength and Fitness Training: An Illustrated Guide to Your Muscles in Action

Natalie Johnson, MS, has worked in an academic setting throughout her career. Natalie taught for the Kinesiology Department at San Diego State University in addition to being the Fitness & Operations Director at the Aztec Recreation Center.  While instructing for the Kinesiology Department, she also was a “Student Mentor”.  As a mentor Natalie advised senior Kinesiology students on resume writing, interviewing skills and assisted students in finding the most appropriate job based on experience, education and location.  

Natalie’s experience outside of academia includes working in world renown resorts in California, Mexico and Jamaica (The Golden Door & Rancho La Puerta) in addition to being the owner of a fitness company called “Fit Chicks” since 2001. Natalie is certified as a Personal Fitness Trainer, Group Fitness Instructor, Sports Nutritionist, Wellness Coach and Pre/Post Natal Specialist. She presents annually for the Medical Fitness Association, Athletic Business and the National Health Benefits Conference.  

Natalie was a Body by Jake Master Trainer and presenter on FitTV and continues to promote fitness locally in Tampa, Florida and nationally in publications and television.  

Natalie is currently the “Manager of Health & Lifestyle Programs” for a Medical Health Plan in Florida. She oversees the Fitness Center and its staff as well as all preventative programs relating to weight loss, fitness, exercise and nutrition. She works closely with a medical management team and is very active in promoting exercise as medicine and prevention.  

Natalie is also the Regional Director for the Medical Fitness Association and works closely with the organization to integrate fitness into the medical community. 

The User ID and Password are provided below:

User ID: demosenior
Password: senior

IMPORTANT: When exploring this demo, we request that you do not adjust/modify the demo's User ID and Password. Thank you.