To your health:
A walk in the woods, with hospital’s nudge
Leaders from Aroostook County’s largest medical provider are hoping that an ongoing series of community outings will help get people active in all seasons — for everyone’s benefit.
Last Saturday, about 30 people young and older met outside The Aroostook Medical Center and headed to the trails around Mantle Lake Park, in the first of three snowshoe treks TAMC employees are leading.
The packed snow throughout the park meant snowshoes weren’t necessary, Linda Menard, of TAMC’s support services team, noted as she corralled the group towards the park. Nonetheless, some people were happy to use snowshoes and one youngster got to ride in a sled as his father tugged him along.
What was important was that they were outside, walking around, Menard said. “We’re not trying to make you an elite athlete,” she said, of the outing series. “We’re looking to help.”
The events are open the whole community, especially people struggling with obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. TAMC identified those issues in its last community health needs assessment, a requirement for tax-exempt hospitals, and vowed to invest in ways to prevent and mitigate these lifestyle-influenced diseases — in part by getting people outside and active.
“If we can help that along, it’s a win-win for everybody,” Menard said. “Healthcare is expensive.”
Snowshoeing is a low-intensity alternative to skiing that’s just as good an exercise and a way to explore woodlands in winter. Even without snowshoes, people can take along poles, for a full body exercise and a bit more support. It was a comfortably cold morning for an hour-long, two mile walk.
The challenge for TAMC and others is pretty huge when it comes to addressing decades of chronic illnesses growing in prevalence. Since 2009, the obesity rate among Aroostook County’s high school students has grown from 13 percent to almost 18 percent. More than a third of adults in The County have at least three chronic conditions, more than 13 percent have diabetes, and 38 percent are obese, according to TAMC’s health assessment.
Incrementally, Menard and others with TAMC’s total health team believe they can inspire more people to walk, go biking or cook wholesome meals. Menard herself got fit — she walks fast — after her doctor urged her to consider what were then issues with weight and high blood pressure. TAMC’s 1,000-plus employees and those throughout Eastern Maine Health System are able to participate in a fitness rewards program, as a part of their health plan, that nudges them towards being more active than less.
By connecting exercise with local natural areas, Menard hopes to draw people who haven’t yet experienced a fall foliage hike or a winters walk among evergreens.
The outings last fall and took the group through Aroostook State Park and the Nordic Heritage Center. “Most of the folks who came had never even been there,” Menard said. “From that, we had so much fun, we thought we’d do three snowshoeing events.”
Along with the Mantle Lake trek, Menard and colleagues are leading snowshoes at Aroostook State Park on Saturday Feb. 20, for the park’s winterfest event, and at the Nordic Heritage Center Saturday March 5. In the spring, they’ll be leading bicycling outings, and more, Menard said.
