Improve Outcomes, Reduce Costs: Bring Mindful Movement to Older Adults

Improve Outcomes, Reduce Costs: Bring Mindful Movement to Older Adults
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Reclaiming Breath as a Tool for Wellness

Breathing may be automatic, but intentional breath can be transformative. For older adults, structured breathwork offers a safe, accessible way to promote relaxation, improve mobility, and increase body awareness. Studies show that practices like diaphragmatic breathing and posture-corrected breath routines can lower cortisol levels, improve oxygen flow, and reduce anxiety (NIH).

As part of whole-person wellness initiatives, breath-focused classes serve as an entry point for physical activity, emotional resilience, and cognitive clarity—especially when mobility or stamina are limited.

Barriers to Breath Awareness Among Older Adults

Despite the simplicity of breathwork, older adults face several challenges that prevent them from engaging intentionally:

  • Shallow, Habitual Breathing – Years of stress and inactivity often lead to chest-dominant breathing, limiting oxygen intake.
  • Poor Posture – Stooped posture compresses the diaphragm, reducing lung capacity and comfort during movement.
  • Anxiety and Disconnection – Many older adults struggle with feelings of overwhelm, which interfere with present-moment awareness and self-regulation.
  • Lack of Exposure – Breath-focused wellness isn’t always included in traditional senior fitness programming, despite its value.

Research from Frontiers in Psychology links conscious breathing with emotional control, fall prevention, and cognitive alertness—all crucial for healthy aging.

Why Breathwork Matters for Healthy Aging & Organizational Outcomes

For healthcare organizations and wellness programs, intentional breath practices for older adults deliver meaningful results across physical, emotional, and behavioral metrics:

  • Reduces Stress and Anxiety – Breath-focused movement supports mental health without requiring medication.
  • Improves Mobility and Balance – Coordinated breath and posture promote core stability and reduce fall risk.
  • Enhances Self-Regulation – Breathing empowers older adults to manage emotions, pain, and stress independently.
  • Encourages Active Participation – Breathwork builds confidence and primes participants for more physical activity.

This aligns directly with goals around member engagement, satisfaction, and reduced cost of care for Medicare Advantage plans, AAAs, and community health partners.

How GetSetUp Supports Breath-Led Wellness

GetSetUp offers a range of wellness classes that introduce older adults to guided breath practices in a safe, social, and structured format.

  • Standing Breathing Exercises – This class teaches gentle, posture-focused breath routines to improve oxygen flow, reduce stress, and support balance.
  • Instructor-Led and Interactive – Older adults can ask questions, share progress, and build community.
  • No Equipment Needed – Ideal for organizations seeking scalable, low-barrier wellness solutions.
  • Easy to Deploy – Organizations can embed these sessions into wellness tracks via portals or custom branded pages.

With minimal cost and maximum accessibility, breath education is an ideal program for organizations supporting older adults in their goals for longevity, independence, and quality of life.

How to Get Started with GetSetUp

Implementing GetSetUp's programs to enhance the well-being of your members is a streamlined process:

Step 1: Select Programs Aligned with Member Needs: Identify and prioritize the programs that address your members' specific challenges and goals:

  • Digital and Health Literacy: Enhance members' understanding of technology and health information.
  • Fall Prevention: Provide strategies to reduce the risk of falls among older adults.
  • Chronic Disease Management: Support self-management of chronic conditions.
  • Independence and Self-Management: Promote skills that enable autonomous living.
  • Caregiving Support: Offer resources for those caring for loved ones.
  • Health Equity Programming: Ensure inclusive health education for all demographics.
  • Social Connectedness: Foster community to combat social isolation.
  • Mental Enrichment: Provide opportunities for cognitive stimulation and growth.

Step 2: Determine Integration Level : Choose how to incorporate GetSetUp into your existing infrastructure:

  • Hosted by GetSetUp: Utilize a dedicated URL and landing page managed by GetSetUp.
  • Embedded Integration: Seamlessly embed classes within your health plan's member portal for a cohesive user experience. Digital Health Platform for Active Agers

Step 3: Customize the Program for Your Organization: Tailor the offerings to reflect your organization's identity and meet member preferences:

  • Class Selection: Choose specific classes and determine the frequency to align with member interests.
  • Curated Series: Develop targeted class series that support your organization's priorities.
  • Engagement Tools: Implement notifications and reminders to encourage participation and discovery.
  • Feedback Mechanisms: Incorporate surveys to gather member insights and assess satisfaction.
  • Multilingual Options: Offer classes in multiple languages to cater to diverse member populations.
  • Brand Integration: Apply your organization's branding, including colors and design elements, for a consistent look and feel.

Step 4: Experience a Live Demonstration: Collaborate with GetSetUp to create a mock-up of the customized platform:

  1. Review and Test: Assess the tailored platform to ensure it meets your expectations and member needs.
  2. Provide Feedback: Share insights to refine the platform for optimal engagement.

Schedule a Consultation: Contact GetSetUp to discuss implementation details and address any questions. For more information or to schedule a consultation, visit GetSetUp Partner Page.

Bring GetSetUp to your organization

We partner with Medicare Advantage plans, dual eligible plans,  healthcare providers, Departments of Health & Human Services, Government aging services and more.