Bill Simms on working out at the MAC Center at 96 years young
Older Americans Month
MARYLAND – May marks Older Americans Month, which is a time to highlight aging trends, and reaffirm commitments to serving the older adults in our communities. Here on the Eastern Shore, we have many people who are 90 years old and above, and WMDT had a chance to speak to one of the Shore’s Eldest, elders.
Bill Simms, a 96-year-old resident, who worked in the trucking business most of his life and is a proud father of 3. He’s lived the majority of his life in Wicomico County. Despite some health issues, Bill is more active than many people who reach his age- that is, those who do reach his age. “My health has not been the best, but um, it’s fairly good at 96… I still have asthma, and I stutter some when I talk… I think my mind, even though my speech is not very good, my mind is pretty good.”
Bill is very independent and says the MAC Center has helped him tremendously. When he first came to the MAC, he could barely walk, and now, he only uses a cane. “Six days a week, that’s an average, I fix my own breakfast, and it usually has cereal, bananas, and blueberries… Well, three days a week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, I come to the gym here at MAC, and I would like to emphasize what it’s done for me.”
Bill Simms is proof that age is just a number, and he says one should stay active mentally and physically. He does a variety of workouts when he’s at the center and even lifts weights. He exercises is for half an hour and on Thursdays and Fridays he stays active with friends and local groups he is a member of.
The MAC Center is a regular spot for Bill and the staff say that he is one of a kind! Mike Hedlesky is the Marketing and Outreach Coordinator, and he has a blast with all the senior citizens who come in. Bill, however, has made an impression. “Bill is the man, he’s a, he’s a really nice guy, he comes in stops by my office and asks me how I’m doing and everything, I actually just learned that he was 96 years old, I actually thought he was in his 80’s”
Bill says that his advice to all the seniors out there is to stay active every single day, because he says if you don’t do it today, you’ll only feel worse. On top of everything else, he has as sense of humor too. “People ask me how old I am, and I say, ‘I really don’t know, but I’ve got a younger brother who’s 94.’ ”
Well Bill’s story is proof you’re only as old as you feel. The MAC Center is open, and the gym offers group classes or one on one training. They hope that Bill’s story is an inspiration to all senior citizens on the shore.
