For Katie Cracraft, fitness coordinator at Waltonwood Cotswold, helping seniors feel their very best is her passion. Cracraft works diligently to get to know each resident, striving to learn what physical activity will motivate each person on an individual level. Waltonwood Cotswold brought Cracraft onboard as a full-time fitness coordinator to help expand the community’s fitness program. She is quickly transforming residents’ physical health one exercise session at a time, which is highly important to the community of Waltonwood Cotswold. Cracraft works diligently to find physical activities that will resonate with residents’ individual goals. Cracraft said she gets to know each resident on a personal level in order to help her understand what activities would inspire each resident.
“It’s really about discovering each resident’s niche when it comes to physical activity,” said Cracraft. “Some residents prefer lifting light weights, and other residents enjoy stationary bicycling or participating in an exercise class. It’s my mission to cater to each resident’s needs and figure out which activity will motivate them to become healthier and stronger.”
One Waltonwood Cotswold resident in particular, Florence Rosenberg, has Cracraft feeling like her methodology is working. Rosenberg, 87, has rediscovered her passion for bicycling with the help of Cracraft. Rosenberg’s daughter, Susan, told Cracraft that her mother used to bicycle on a daily basis. Cracraft developed a twice-a-week exercise plan to remind Rosenberg of her bicycling days. To help motivate Rosenberg, Cracraft incorporated Rosenberg’s favorite classical music in her exercise routines, such as Mozart. Rosenberg, who has six grandchildren, and communicated to her daughter and Cracraft that her goal was to get physically stronger to help her arthritis, so she can keep up with her active grandchildren. She also had knee and hip replacement surgery recently, and finds that bicycling speeds up her joint and muscle recovery.
“I feel happy, and I have more energy,” said Rosenberg. “Katie motivates me throughout the week to keep moving on my stationary bicycle. My advice to other seniors is to start small. I take it one day at a time, and try to focus on feeling physically stronger. That way, when I spend time with my grandchildren I have the energy to play with them.”
To catch a glimpse into the residents’ backgrounds in physical activity, Cracraft spends time individually with each resident in her ‘One to One Fitness’ class. Cracraft, who previously worked as a personal trainer, feels one-on-one sessions helps her better understand residents’ physical activity goals.
“It’s incredibly rewarding to see residents enjoy working out,” Said Cracraft. “As the weeks go on, I’m able to witness them have more energy, laugh and overall feel like they’re accomplishing something that’s so important to their health. It’s really a beautiful experience, and I look forward to implementing more classes in the future.”
If you are a member of the media interested in setting up an interview or attending the activity, please contact Jena Spiro via phone at 214-378-7970 ext. 245 or email at jspiro@thepointgroup.com or Amy Jones via phone at 214-378-7970 ext. 302 or email at ajones@thepointgroup.com.
ABOUT WALTONWOOD COTSWOLD
Waltonwood Cotswold opened in August 2016 and offers seniors a dignified, individualized community where residents can thrive. The senior living community offers assisted living and memory care apartments in private one- and two-bedroom and studio floor plans for up to 117 residents. Residents will live in luxury accommodations with many engaging amenities, including elegantly appointed common areas and restaurant-style dining. Residents receive the most up-to-date advances in senior living, including the specially designed Forever Fit program and a Montessori-based dementia care program. The community is located close to Uptown and South Park Charlotte, with easy access to retail shopping, churches, hospitals, dining and entertainment.
In 1973 Gurmale Singh Grewal, along with his brothers Lushman and Jeat, established Singh as a family-owned company and for 43 years Singh remains multifaceted in real estate development, with a strong foundation in luxury apartments, commercial properties, land development, high-end single family homes and, for nearly 30 years, senior living communities which have been branded “Waltonwood.” The vertical integration of the company, which provides for development, construction, finance and management under one umbrella, allows Singh to be poised for new opportunities in expanding markets. All projects are wholly owned by Singh and continue to be owned and managed by Singh.
With regional offices in Cary, NC, Singh has made a strong commitment to expansion of its brand into the southeast markets. Learn more about Singh and its Waltonwood communities at www.singhweb.com. If you are interested in learning more about Waltonwood Cotswold, please visit www.waltonwood.com or call 704-490-4330.
