St. Leonard's Social Walking Program

James Kevine of the Mayo Clinic comments, “getting out there and taking a walk is what it's all about," and according to the Mayo Clinic “walking is a legitimate, worthy mode of exercise for all people.” The St. Leonard social walking program is walking to Disney in 2010 and with almost 800 residents and 400 employees; the “rules of the road” have been modified to meet every need. Of course, measurement is the first step so that everyone can create their own milestones and/or strive to keep pace with other walking teams. The main walking paths within the buildings were measured so that walkers can do their own Math Facts walk and pedometers have been ordered for those people who are walking most of the day, outside or intermittently throughout the day.

Walking maps are being erected to serve as visual reinforcement or perhaps a mode of accountability so that everyone is connected to the fact that this is a community wide event. Being part of the Disney social walking program helps to motivate others while also keeping the walker focused on their personal wellness plan. Information about walking is also being distributed so that all walkers can understand the many points of value that walking has, when added to a personal wellness plan. This information also helps teams and individuals better understand the need for moderation as walking can be a mild, moderate, or vigorous exercise depending on the health of the person or the style of walking exercise that is followed for this program.

The adaptations to the program provide avenues to be sure that everyone can participate in this social walking program. For example, walking on and off campus counts towards miles walked as does walking to and from regular activities of daily living, which means that all walking counts. Employees are given five points for participating and these five points add to their service excellence points, which is a rewards programs for employees who work at St. Leonard. Persons who use a walker can double their mileage and those who self-propel from a wheelchair can triple their walking miles before turning them in at the end of each month. Participants can also march in place from bedside or chair-side and these marching steps are quadrupled before tallying the final miles walked at the end of each month.

The goal as we take baby steps to becoming certified as a Vital Life Community is to engage the employees and residents in a program that is simple and yet so valuable for beginning a program for exercise adherence, to move away from fraility and failure toward a Vital Life of fun and function.