The results are in from Tivity Health’s latest survey of participants in its Silver Sneakers program. The survey, fielded in January 2022 amidst the COVID-19 omicron wave, asked these Medicare Advantage enrollees how they are faring socially, physically and emotionally.
 
Socializing

• A plurality of respondents (32%) indicated that talking on the phone is their first choice for how to socialize, 28% prefer to socialize in person (outside or inside) and 18% stated text messaging was their first choice.
• 22% of respondents said they connected with others just once or twice in the past month and 12% said they haven’t at all.

COVID-19 Disruption
Stress and worry are at multi-month highs

• 42% of survey respondents have experienced social isolation in the past week.
• 39% are disrupted by the inability to visit friends and family and 24% are disrupted from their normal routines.
• Concerns for the health of friends and family is once again the highest driver of respondent distress (59%), followed by not knowing when things will return to normal (56%) and concerns about personal health (55%).

Fitness Routine/Return to the Gym

• 76% of respondents rate their physical activity as the same or better than three months ago—a lower proportion compared to previous reporting periods.
• Among the 24% whose physical activity declined, lack of motivation remains the primary driver, closely followed by respondents trying to limit time outside due to COVID-19.
• 68% of respondents plan to exercise in the next three months, 82% of frequent gym going respondents will do the same.
• 35% of gym going respondents are back in the gym, another 36% plan to be and 15% of gym going respondents will not return.
• 90% of respondents who plan to return to the gym will do so within three months.
• Having a routine is the top driver for returning to the gym.

Nutrition

• 13% of respondents report being worried food will run out before having money to buy more (same as last wave).
• 17% of respondents report eating habits which are worse since the pandemic, while 73% report their eating habits are about the same.
• Snacking and having an inconsistent meal routine are the most common reason for respondents’ decline in eating habits.