Growing older doesn’t mean you have to sit on the sidelines.

In fact, more and more people who are advancing in age are living longer that ever before, and finding that good living and some old-fashioned exercise helps them feel better, and even find friends.

Nowhere is that shown better than in the Elk Ridge Village Senior Living in Omaha, Neb., where a fitness class has a master teacher: 102-year-old Jean Bailey.

Jean has lived at the facility for more than 14 years. When Covid struck in 2020, Jean knew that staying active was important for her. So, she said, she used her natural skills of motivation to get her neighbors to join her in the hallway for some simple, socially-distanced, chair exercises.

I really feel that if you don’t keep your mind and body busy, then why are you here?” Jean said.

Jean and her group of friends enjoyed their exercise time so much, they never stopped it.

Conducted 4 days a week, for 30 minutes, each session begins with an opening prayer. Then the women do 20 different stretches, for each part of the body.

“You move every part of your body, absolutely, from your hands to your toes,” Jean said.

Jean Bailey is 102 years old and makes exercise a key part of her healthy routine. She leads exercise classes for other residents of her building four times a week. Photo courtesy Elk Ridge Village Senior Living

In addition to helping the women stay more active, it has helped nourish friendships.

“We’ve gotten pretty close up there on our floor,” Jean said. “One of us would do something for anybody. We really keep track of each other.”

Jean said she has zero plans to stop leading the exercise group. “When I get old, I’ll quit,” she said, smiling.

She jokes that her friends call her a tough coach.

“They tease me and said I’m mean, because when we do exercises, I want them to do it right and use your muscles,” Jean said.

So the tough coach has them work out 4 days a week, with each session starting with a prayer, and then 35 minutes of exercises done seated in a chair, and she makes sure they move each part of their body: rotator cuffs, knees, hips, shoulders and the neck.

“You move every part of your body. I’m kind of tough on them because I want them to do it right. I want all of us to keep walking,” Jean said.

“You have to keep your body busy and your mind busy… why would you just give up?”

Phyllis Black, 87, lives down the hall from Jean and enjoys the exercise classes; if she skips them, she feels stiff, Phyllis said.

After classes, Phyllis said, there are often baked goods for special occasions like someone’s birthday.

“She’s a very nice neighbor, and she’s a good friend also,” Phyllis said. “She’s very talented.”

Jean was born in 1921, and grew up during the Great Depression. When she was three, Jean said, her mom, who had four other children, gave Jean to another family. Her new family eventually moved to Nebraska from Wyoming, where she has lived ever since.

Her life was quite full, she said. While a teenager, she modeled for J.C. Penney. Eventually, Jean married her husband, Loren, in 1942. Sadly, Loren passed away in 1989. The couple had three children, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.

Jean Bailey with Loren Bailey, her husband who died 34 years ago. Photo courtesy of Jean Bailey

Jean spends her time practicing her skills she learned as a florist by making bouquets for residents. She also deals Blackjack during card games.

“More than anything, (Jean’s) general outlook on life … is just remarkable,” Sean Tran, operations director at Elk Ridge, said. “She’s the nicest, most thoughtful, caring person that I probably ever met.

Nothing is going to stop her,” Tran said. “She’s going to keep going, no matter what.”

Jean inspires others, he said. “If she can do this at 102, I can do this at my age, whatever it is.”

Jean said she doesn’t know what has helped her live so long, but has a few ideas. Eating healthy, she said, and staying active likely has played a big role in that.

“(But) I really don’t know,” Jean said. “I thought if God was ready for me, He’d take me and He hasn’t yet, so I guess that means I have things to do.”

Watch below for a look at this amazing woman!

Sources: Washington Post | Today