by Jennifer Tangeman
Time and motivation seem to be the biggest obstacles keeping local residents from exercising.
About 63 percent of those responding to a recent survey by the Cass County Family YMCA and Logansport Memorial Hospital listed time as a big factor standing in the way of exercise, and 45 percent listed motivation as an obstacle.
“We asked them ‘What are the biggest obstacles in keeping you from exercising?’ and wanted them to check all that apply,” YMCA executive director Ellen Kuker said. “Individuals could have checked four or five things.”
The survey is part of a partnership between the YMCA and the hospital seeking to address the wellness needs of the community.
Kuker said 290 people participated in the survey.
“Y USA said for a community our size that if we got 200 people to take the survey it would be a good sampling,” she said. “They were surprised that our community responded the way it did. I think this is an important issue, and people are really starting to evaluate where wellness falls on their priority list.”
The survey produced 45 pages of results, but Kuker said a task force of people from the YMCA and the hospital will be concentrating on some major aspects of the results and working to implement programming and services to coordinate with those results.
She said the task force met Thursday.
“We talked about that it really is about priorities,” Kuker said. “We feel like when an individual is faced with a health crisis then all of the sudden taking care of themselves seems a priority.
“We need to somehow provide programs and the facility that people want to come and be a part of so they don’t have to wait for that crisis to make wellness a priority.”
Another lesson learned from the survey is that people want to have a personal trainer or coach.
“People really see the value in having staff there beside them when they work out, like a wellness instructor or personal trainer,” Kuker said. “That makes sense because motivation was listed so high as an obstacle.”
One question asked what additions or updates would most improve a person’s fitness experience. Around 44 percent of the respondents said personal trainers would be the No. 1 addition.
Kuker said the survey showed YMCA officials that they need to get more trained staff on board to engage individuals and help change behaviors.
“The only way to do that is one-one-one attention,” she said.
She said the YMCA would work to hire more trainers and wellness instructors in the next 12 to 18 months.
One surprising result was that respondents listed the social aspect as the No. 1 reason they enjoyed working out at the YMCA.
“That kind of goes along with the spirit, mind and body philosophy the Y has,” Kuker said.
Other top reasons were the equipment available at the facility and its family-oriented nature.
The top reasons keeping non-members from becoming members were time and money. About 58 percent of survey takers said they did not have the time and 48 percent said they did not have the money.
Kuker said she wished the public had a different perspective on the cost of the YMCA.
“The Y doesn’t turn anyone away for inability to pay,” she said.
Through a financial assistance scholarship program, YMCA officials use a sliding fee scale, based on income, to determine what portion an individual should be able to pay and what part of membership the YMCA can subsidize.
“I feel bad about the perception that people can’t afford the Y,” Kuker said. “If you break it down, the cost for membership is about one meal a month spent going out to dinner. If you cut one dining experience out each month you could come every day to the YMCA.”
Kuker said the task force will meet in April to begin talking about options for the future based on the survey results.
• Jennifer Tangeman is a reporter for the Pharos-Tribune. She can be reached at 574-732-5148 or jennifer.tangeman@pharostribune.com.
