Nothing makes Melissa Clark’s day better than hearing from residents at Wellington Bay Senior Living Community and its Lisbet Health Center, who tell her they can walk straighter, lift their arms higher, feel more upbeat, and are seeing an improvement in their balance, strength, mobility, agility, endurance, and overall fitness. 

Clark, who is the Wellness Director at the luxury senior living community in Wellington, Florida, strives to offer a wealth of different exercise and fitness classes to help residents stay engaged and continue to lead healthy, happy lives no matter what their age, beginning fitness level, or level of care in which they live.

Wellington Bay offers 26 exercise classes each week for independent living and multiple classes each week for residents in the attached Lisbet Health Center’s assisted living and memory care.  

“We keep a well-rounded and robust calendar so residents can work on all dimensions of wellness,” says Clark, who’s been the Wellness Director since the community opened in 2022. 

The classes, including mat or chair yoga, line dancing, mindful movement, functional fitness, water walking, water aerobics, barre balance,  Pilates, and strength training –to mention just a few—are focused on helping residents improve their balance, strength, cardio fitness, agility, mobility, and flexibility. 

As a baseline, each resident completes a physical assessment before embarking on an exercise and fitness program. “I sit down with each resident to evaluate all those elements of overall physical fitness,” she says. “When they do this assessment, they can evaluate for themselves what they want to work on. We talk about their fitness goals and how they can achieve those goals.”

Depending on their objectives, Clark suggests classes that residents should consider taking and recommends ways they can hold themselves accountable to their objectives. “I ask them what they are willing to commit to, and we write that down,” she says. 

Classes are scheduled and printed on a monthly calendar so residents can plan which they want to attend. The courses are offered on a drop-in basis, so Clark customizes each class to the fitness needs of the residents who show up. “It’s really important to teach to who is in the room rather than to follow a rigid plan,” she says.

Classes in independent living are generally more challenging—so much so that people from outside the community have praised the workouts. “People’s adult children will come to a class, and they say to their parents, ‘Oh. That was hard,’” Clark says. 

Assisted living residents are also provided with a comprehensive fitness program focusing on highly specialized exercise modalities to enhance balance, strength, agility, flexibility, mobility, and endurance. 

Melissa’s deep knowledge of yoga, breathwork, and mind-body techniques helps residents in all levels of care to manage stress and promote overall well-being. No matter what a person’s age or fitness level, Clark says, “You’re never too old to move and improve at whatever level you are.” 

Clark, who has extensive experience as a teacher and motivator in the fitness field, is passionate about helping people live their lives to the fullest. Building bonds with residents and seeing them reach their goals is one of the best parts of her job. “I love what I do and the heart of my work is fostering meaningful connections with our residents,” she says. 

Wellington Bay

Wellington Bay is a rental retirement community featuring luxury apartments on a palm tree-shaded campus in Wellington, Florida-- named by Money Magazine as one of the “Best Places to Retire,” and known for its golf courses, thriving equestrian community, and lovely homes. Wellington Bay offers independent living that supports a vibrant lifestyle for active seniors.  Lisbet Health Center, located onsite, offers assisted living and memory care. Wellington Bay is owned and operated by Liberty Senior Living, LLC, a division of Liberty Health that specializes in senior living and retirement communities. To learn more about Wellington Bay, visit www.WellingtonBayFl.com. To learn more about Liberty Senior Living and the communities they offer, please visit www.LibertySeniorLiving.com.