According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the average human needs about 150 minutes of exercise per week to remain healthy as they age, but 80% of Americans aren’t checking that box. 

And while there may be a plethora of reasons why “getting older” could impose on your ability to exercise as frequently as you should, three residents of Ingleside at King Farm – all 95 years young – are living proof that it is possible, and that there is no excuse. 

The three neighbors, Sy Herman, Peggy Adams, and Bob Verkouteren, are using their daily commitment to swim together to encourage and inspire each other’s healthy living choices and well-being. After retiring to the Rockville, Maryland senior living community, Ingleside at King Farm, just outside of Washington, DC, the aquateers became friends through their shared love of aquatic fitness, realizing they also shared the same diligence in being at the pool each day before sunrise, meeting as early as 6:30 a.m. to swim laps. 

“One morning I’m in the water and I find these two rascals here, and now we’re here together every day,” said Peggy. The friendship among the three seniors grew close over the past year ever since the trio made a deal that they would start each day at the pool before breakfast.

Science has proven that positive social relationships play a role in better health and life expectancy.  Unlike forty percent of older adults in the U.S. who report chronic loneliness, Peggy, Sy and Bob, are a prime example of the positive impact meaningful relationships can have on maintaining a personal commitment to physical fitness and daily exercise.

Each morning, the seniors take turns using the fast lane at The Herman Aquatic Center at Ingleside at King Farm, challenging their endurance while also making use of water weights and other strengthening tools. The aquatic trio bonded over a shared commitment to physical exercise, community-building, and philanthropic work – all factors that health studies have shown contribute to longevity and increased quality of life. 

“I took up swimming because it was a sport I could enjoy daily,” shared Sy. “I couldn’t play tennis and couldn’t play golf. So, I took up swimming, which has added years to our lives and life to our years!” 

Fitness is an essential part of the Ingleside culture of living a healthy and engaged lifestyle. Ingleside’s state-of-the-art fitness facilities include a fitness center with robust programming and access to a physical trainer to tailor and support strength and cardiovascular training. 

Not only does Sy use the various fitness amenities at Ingleside, but he’s also provided financial support and resources back into the senior living community to help better its aquatic facilities. Upon moving to Ingleside, Sy and his wife Sheila donated a gift to the Westminster Ingleside Foundation, with an amount specifically designated for the Aquatic Center. “It’s wonderful being here,” Sy said. “There are so many opportunities to be involved. I really love this place.”

A range of community building and wellness opportunities abound at Ingleside, which has been recognized nationally for its inclusivity. 

Ingleside at King Farm, and it’s sister communities, Ingleside at Rock Creek, and Westminster at Lake Ridge were officially recognized when they received the 2023 SAGECare platinum-level lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) cultural competency certification. SAGECare is acknowledged as the foremost comprehensive, national cultural competency training program dedicated to improving the lives of older LGBT adults. Additionally, Ingleside participates in the Human Rights Campaign Foundation and SAGE’s Long-Term Care Equality Index (LEI), earning the designation as an “LGBTQ+ Long-Term Care Equality High Performer.”

“Ingleside has always been, and will continue to be committed to fostering a culture of health and inclusion,” said Christine L. Podles, MA, HSE, LNHA, Chief Operating Officer of Ingleside. “We recognize and celebrate each person’s individual uniqueness and strive to help them live a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life. It is a core value that we continue to ensure is ingrained into the fabric of the Ingleside family.”

Fitness helps lengthen lives. According to a study in Journal of Aging Research, those who exercise regularly—even for as little as three hours a week—can live up to almost 7 years longer than those who aren’t as physically active. The three swimming seniors made a pact that they would live long, healthy lives, making it to their 100th birthdays together. 

“We will all be turning 100 years old within four months of each other, and I’m already sending out verbal ‘save the dates,’” said Peggy. The aquateer is already planning the party for the trio. “Mark your calendars for November 2027 – everyone is invited!” 

The aquateers plan to have their celebration at no place other than The Herman Aquatic Center. Sy shared, “We’re going to have a Century Club ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by music, dancing, and a great meal for the entire community.” 

A seismic shift in senior living is underway, and the epicenter is right here in Tysons. Earlier this month, The Mather opened its doors to those 62 and better, offering luxury of a different kind in an unprecedented Life Plan Community. 

The Mather, situated on nearly four acres at 7929 Westpark Drive, is a $500 million development and 293-apartment-home residence operated by Mather, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating Ways to Age Well^SM. The new community boasts 38,000 square feet of amenities, including multiple restaurants and a bar/lounge; a fitness center with exercise equipment, group fitness studio, and indoor pool; a luxury spa; outdoor spaces including a yoga terrace; public/private park spaces; and more.

“We’re proud to open this ‘next-gen’ Life Plan Community that defies expectations of what senior living looks like,” said Mather CEO and President Mary Leary. “The Mather is a bold reflection of our unwavering commitment to provide luxury of a different kind.”

What sets The Mather apart is the blend of international flair, high-tech services, biophilic design, and wellness-forward experiences woven throughout the community.  

International cultures are showcased throughout The Mather. A curated collection of artwork, sculptures, and antiquities from around the world reflect themes of connection, unity, and nature. Additionally, The Mather’s amenities are named to celebrate global cultures.

Each of The Mather’s three restaurants, as well as its bar and lounge, showcases cuisines from around the world, such as sushi, Berkshire Pork Bao, Mushroom Biryani, and crab cakes with mango-habanero salsita. The Mather’s food and beverage program seeks to please the most refined of palettes while adding inspired touches like a hydroponic micro-farm, onsite honey production by Italian bees, and a dedicated bake shop/pastry shop with a German-made, state-of-the-art bread oven.

In addition, The Mather uses technology throughout the community to enhance the experience. Residents can use an in-house app to sign up for programs and classes, request special cleaning or maintenance services, make restaurant reservations, and schedule spa appointments; robots are on hand to deliver restaurant orders to residents’ front doors; and custom Alexa devices support smart-home technology as well as community information.  

The Mather is pre-certified LEED Gold and pursuing WELL Building certification. Its biophilic design reflects the intersection of interior spaces and programs, with nature in an urban setting. The overall design provides sustained interaction with the natural environment. 

“Residences have open floor plans with floor-to-ceiling windows that maximize natural light,” Leary said. “And The Mather’s amenity spaces invite involvement with the outdoors to enhance well-being, whether residents are swimming laps in the saltwater pool or relaxing on zero gravity loungers in a Himalayan-sea-salt-infused breath room.”

A highlight amongst The Mather’s many wellness features is its spa, with offerings including the breath room with a Himalayan sea salt wall, a live herb wall for custom teas and treatments, an infrared sauna, a multi-sensory Gharieni Welnamis wave bed, as well as signature spa services. 

The Mather’s wellness-forward features are accentuated not only in the community’s high-end amenities, but also in its variety of programming. Residents can explore their passions and find new interests through an array of creative, social, and intellectual opportunities. Examples include a salon series with Smithsonian curators, nature immersion programs, creative sessions with area teaching artists, and sensory pool experiences with live music and meditation.

The Mather is surrounded by three acres of green space, offering residents opportunities to enjoy an urban lawn for concerts, a dog park, badminton and bocce courts, and walking paths with seating areas and sculptures.

The Mather’s apartment homes range from 800 to 3,300 square feet, and feature expansive views, high-end finishes, and innovative smart-home technology. Pricing includes a one-time entrance fee (starting at $650,000) that is 90 percent refundable to the resident or resident’s estate, and a monthly service fee. Prices are based on apartment size, view, service package, and health plan selected.

All of this adds up to a community that has broken new ground in senior living. A place where the gorgeous interiors and breathtaking décor are matched by the richness of quality programs, services, and offerings, and all are designed to enhance residents’ lifestyles. That is truly luxury of a different kind.

By EDWINA EYRE | In the rapidly evolving public health landscape, one stark reality has remained constant: Black cisgender and Transgender women bear a disproportionate burden of the HIV epidemic. Black women, who constitute only 14% of the female population in the United States, accounted for a staggering 53% of new HIV diagnoses among women aged 13 and older in just 2021 alone. Additionally, Black Transgender women have the highest rates of new HIV diagnoses among Transgender people and are more likely to go undiagnosed and untreated in comparison to their peers. 

Although medicines like PrEP and PEP can help mitigate these disparities, structural and social factors like stigma, discrimination and economic inequality coupled with significant gaps in the delivery of culturally-competent HIV prevention information and care continue to exacerbate poor health outcomes for Black women and girls impacted by HIV. 

“Since the start of the epidemic 40 years ago, Black women have borne the brunt of annual HIV diagnoses and premature deaths, largely due to the social determinants of health that impact us long before we even get a diagnosis,” said Vanessa Johnson, Co-Executive Director at Ribbon – Center of Excellence, a nonprofit providing support for individuals in need of services for HIV and chronic diseases. “Black women are the caretakers of our communities, but structural and social barriers like poverty, violence and trauma continue to fuel disparities within HIV outcomes, which disproportionately impact us more than any other population group.” 

Last year Gilead Sciences launched the Setting the P.A.C.E. (Prevention, Arts and Advocacy, Community, Education) Initiative to help address these critical issues. This three-year, $12.6 million commitment is aimed at increasing HIV prevention, anti-stigma and health equity efforts for Black cisgender and Transgender women and girls in the United States. 

“At Gilead, we know that we cannot end the HIV epidemic if we do not prioritize the needs of Black women and girls,” said Carmen Villar, Vice President, Public Affairs, Gilead Sciences. “The Setting the P.A.C.E. Initiative tackles barriers to care head-on by supporting high-impact organizations working to improve the HIV landscape for impacted individuals.”

Setting the P.A.C.E focuses on empowering Black women led- and serving organizations on the front lines of this epidemic, providing them with the tools and resources needed to rewrite the narrative on HIV care and treatment. Through its four key focal points –Prevention, Arts and Advocacy, Community and Education – the program seeks to support projects tackling HIV health barriers for Black women and girls, from expanding programs that provide culturally-responsive HIV care training to leveraging arts and media to engage local communities and address stigma. 

Ribbon – Center of Excellence is one of the 19 grantees that will receive the first round of Setting the P.A.C.E. funding. With support from Gilead, Ribbon will provide capacity-building assistance to other grantee organizations and non-funded groups servicing cisgender and Transgender Black women, focusing their support in the areas of policy, advocacy and convening.  

“Setting the P.A.C.E. will allow us to build a network of groups working to advance HIV health equity for Black women and girls, and foster convening spaces for these organizations,” said Linda H. Scruggs, Co-Executive Director at Ribbon. “There are a lot of organizations working toward our same goals. Once we create multilevel partnerships at federal, state and individual levels, we can identify gaps in policy and funding, and work toward providing services and advocacy to meet these needs.”

The programs that are part of the Setting the P.A.C.E Initiative will be either nationally- or regionally- focused. Most importantly, more than 75% of the organizations selected for grants are led by Black women and every funding allocation is directed toward initiatives spearheaded by Black women.

“Black women are stepping up to lead HIV advocacy and response programs across the country,” said Scruggs. “For the first time, we are building the resources and creating the opportunity to forge new paths toward fixing, healing and protecting our own community. There’s no reason why another generation of Black women, cis or Trans, should be casualties of the HIV epidemic in the years to come.” 

(Gilead: More than Medicine is part of a paid collaboration between Gilead Sciences and the Los Angeles Blade and Washington Blade.)