By Reid Forgrave
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Kate Schuermann gives Sister Jeanette Jabour a tour of the fitness center at the new Bayley Place Community Wellness Center. (Enquirer photo)

The activities at the new $5.5 million community center and gym here are meant to be low-stress.

Aerobic exercises that can be done in a wheelchair. Aerobics in a warm pool designed to ease pains for people with arthritis or hip replacements. Pilates, tai chi and yoga classes that cater to seniors.

It's all part of the goal of the Bayley Place Community Wellness Center, a new community center/gym for west-side residents ages 40 and up.

"Those baby boomers are all ready to go into their senior citizen years, and they need a place to exercise," said Jerry Haralson, president of the YMCA of Greater Cincinnati, which staffs and manages the wellness center that opened last week on the campus of the 158-acre Bayley Place Retirement Community.

WANT TO JOIN?

To join the Bayley Place Community Wellness Center for senior citizens, call (513) 347-1400. If you join this month, the $125 joiner's fee will be waived. Monthly membership Adult single: $50 Married couple: $75 Senior (60+): $45 Senior Couple: $60

In a spiffy new stone building near the College of Mount St. Joseph, the wellness center is a nonprofit ministry of the Sisters of Charity and the new center for the Eldermount adult day care program.

"We want to keep seniors active and happy," said Sister Jeanne Roach, president of Bayley Place.

The wellness center has a 27-by-44-foot pool - kept at 88 degrees - for water workouts, a fitness center with equipment for strength training, cardiovascular conditioning and circuit training, a walking track, and an area for therapy such as massage.

An entire part of the building is dedicated to the Eldermount Adult Care program for seniors whose caregivers need a break during the day.

Outreach services will also deliver hot meals for homebound adults on the west side.

"We are very proud in Delhi Township to have the College of Mount St. Joseph and Bayley Place in our community," said Jerry Luebbers, president of the Delhi Township trustees.

"A lot of the people we're dealing with here have never even seen weight machines before," said Donnie Kalb, director of the wellness center.

E-mail rforgrave@enquirer.com