This month marks two years since I joined Tivity Health as President and CEO. Due to the pandemic, June 2020 was filled with uncertainty for businesses across the U.S., and Tivity Health was no different. The company was quickly pivoting from primarily in-person fitness for SilverSneakers® members to a digital platform that would enable them to stay active from home.

The survey indicates that SilverSneakers makes a measurable difference in members’ health, both physically and emotionally. Healthy Days among participants are 22% higher than the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) national benchmark. And, depression among participants is 64% less prevalent than the CMS national benchmark

During the holiday season, many look forward to reflecting and celebrating the end of the year with family and friends. However, it’s not a happy time for everyone. In fact, it can be quite the opposite for many seniors who find themselves alone and not surrounded by their loved ones. The pandemic has only exacerbated it.

Maintaining good health and independence is essential to older adults’ overall health and well-being, and many Medicare Advantage (MA) plans offer both medical and non-medical benefits outside of those covered by traditional Medicare to help older adults achieve better health outcomes.

Despite the myriad of challenges seniors faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, the clouds are beginning to lift as we begin seeing a return to “normal” lifestyles and activities. In Tivity Health’s latest SilverSneakers Pulse Survey, we polled hundreds of our SilverSneakers members regarding their experiences related to physical activity, nutrition, social engagement, and their overall health during the pandemic.

Seventy-five percent of seniors are willing to take the COVID-19 vaccine immediately, up from 47% in November, according to the latest SilverSneakers Pulse Survey from Tivity Health. “Trust, Timing, and COVID: A Vaccine Study Among U.S. Seniors — Round 2,” surveyed more than 4,500 seniors to assess their attitudes about the vaccine, the experience of those who have been vaccinated and barriers to adoption.

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to have a profound impact in our world, it is a harsh reality that one of our most vulnerable populations – our senior family members, friends, neighbors and community members – also are most likely to be at a higher risk of negative outcomes if they catch the virus.

Today, Tivity Health® Inc, unveiled the results of a nationally representative survey of its SilverSneakers members with almost 4,000 seniors responding from 49 U.S. states. The SilverSneakers Pulse survey uncovers senior perceptions of a COVID-19 vaccine and their willingness to receive the vaccine once available. Click here to read the press release and here to view the survey results.

Virtual solutions are here to stay and the data it enables is vital. In the wake of COVID-19, when we found ourselves, we, like many companies in the U.S. went completely virtual. Seemingly overnight, our entire SilverSneakers^® brand was digital or live streaming so we could better meet our members’ needs and encourage healthy behaviors.