Closure of South Jersey gyms impacts seniors, former member says

Inspira Health Network closed its Fitness Connection locations at the end of June, a decision that has upset some seniors who used the centers both for fitness and to connect with friends.

Longtime member Gary Jost, 70, of Millville, said the decision to shut down the gyms has stripped away the “independence and spirit” of those seniors who used the gyms.

“What Inspira accomplished with closing this gym was it took the last surrender that many of these people had, and took the last thing that they had that made them part of a group,” he said.

He said many members of the Fitness Connections, with locations in Vineland, Bridgeton and Elmer, were seniors.The Physician Referred Exercise Program, in which doctors prescribed exercise routines to seniors, has also been discontinued, Inspira Health Network confirmed to NJ Advance Media.

“The health care industry has been experiencing immense change and, like other health systems, Inspira is not immune to the headwinds facing our industry,” Christine Skiffington, assistant vice president of marketing and communications at Inspira Health Network, told NJ Advance Media. “Navigating this change requires an ongoing assessment of our investments and a concentration on our core services.

“We’ve seen a growth in options like the YMCAs in Millville and Vineland, as well as national chains like Planet Fitness opening in our area. Coupled with changing fitness habits and declining membership, it became clear that continuing to operate the Fitness Connection locations wasn’t the most effective way for us to fulfill our mission in the current environment.”

Many seniors joined in an effort to stop the closures, Jost said. After being told the closures were due to financial challenges, Jost said, they offered to double their membership payments, and proposed buying at least one of the buildings that housed a Fitness Connection location and form a health co-op.

Skiffington said Inspira “provided recommendations for other resources in the South Jersey community to meet the fitness and exercise needs of our members.” According to Skiffington, some local fitness centers waived their registration fee or offered a discount to former Fitness Connection members.

Jost said the Fitness Connections fostered a close-knit community, and improved the cognitive function and physical health of seniors in a way that other gyms in the community can’t match.

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Rebecca Heath may be reached at RHeath@njadvancemedia.com.