“Max” Recovery
May 2026 Athlete of the Month
By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller
Maximilian “Max” Cavalli, 64
Scarborough, Maine
Powerlifting and Cycling
Photo courtesy Maximilian Cavalli.
All senior athletes experience illness, injuries or other setbacks. Many, like powerlifter and cyclist Maximilian Cavalli, say their fitness lifestyle helped them make a successful comeback.
Some challenges are more difficult to overcome, and Maximilian faced one of the toughest when he suffered a stroke while on the road for his sales job in 2016. He felt a little tired after a light evening workout in the hotel gym and woke up the next morning with part of his left side frozen.
According to the American Stroke Association, someone has a stroke every 40 seconds in the United States. It’s important to know the warning signs, because the faster a stroke is treated, the more likely a patient is to recover.
“…I learned a full recovery is incremental and takes time,” Maximillian says. “My daughter is an emergency room doctor, and she was very clear that 90 percent of the recovery from a stroke occurs in the first year. Anything after that is incremental.”
Instead of worrying about his fate, Maximilian got to work in rehab — and his persistence paid off. His doctors said that while most stroke survivors attain 75% recovery, they rated his at 97%.
The Brooklyn native credits his lifelong commitment to staying active — from running at the University of Maine to kayaking and competing as both a recreational and competitive cyclist — with keeping his body strong enough to respond well to the stroke. Still, he admits that life’s responsibilities had cut into his training time, and he wasn’t in the shape he ideally wanted to be.
It was later discovered that he needed PFO surgery for a congenital hole in his heart. Maximilian surprised his doctors at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston with his fast rebound. “It was the same team that worked with football great Tedy Bruschi. Afterwards, they said my recovery was the fourth best that they’d ever witnessed, one of which was Tedy, and the other two were Olympians.”
Maximilian is grateful that his employer, Mannington Floors, provided six months of paid leave to support his recovery. The gesture has paid off for the 110-year-old company as he has become their national director of education market segments, saying his sport activities have contributed to his business success.
Finding Powerlifting in Senior Games
Maximilian’s Senior Games journey began in 2018 when a close friend who played basketball in the Maine Senior Games was competing while battling cancer.
Maximilian decided to compete in her honor in Maine, and then attended his first National Senior Games in 2019. He entered the Team Triathlon, where his bike segment helped win a gold medal in the 55+ category.
Maximilian came back to The Games in 2022 and 2023 to compete in Cycling Time Trials. When Powerlifting was added for the 2025 Games in Des Moines, he eagerly signed on. He had lifted weights for decades and was drawn to Powerlifting disciplines before the announcement. Now he could do the 10K Time Trial while also pouring his heart into lifting competitions.
Left: Maximilian looking on the Powerlifting competition at the 2025 National Senior Games presented by Humana. Right: Maximilian lifting in the gym. Photo courtesy Maximilian Cavalli.
He was rewarded with a gold medal in Powerlifting and is confident he will top the podium again at the 2027 National Senior Games presented by Humana in Tulsa.
The two events are a perfect pairing for Maximilian. “I believe that cycling and lifting both support each other…in the bike riding, you’re strengthening your legs for lifting, and then the lifting is strengthening your legs for the bike.”
Deep Family Motivation and Inspiration
Maximillian and one of his grandchildren. Photo courtesy Maximilian Cavalli.
Maximilian credits his parents for giving him a foundation and an appreciation of family. “My father was blind, so as a result, I saw the challenges that he had to live with just going through life and figuring out how to send me to prep school and college,” he recalls. “He provided a vision to understand that you’re probably going to have to make pivots with your journey, and to make accommodations for yourself and be patient.”
The athlete also always wears a diamond pendant with the letter M that belonged to his mother, Mary. “The people that you carry are part of your life and who you are,” he stresses. “The first step is acknowledging that you’re blessed and then understand that you have a responsibility to be a light for other people.”
“I’m just so grateful that I have my beautiful wife, two children and five grandchildren, and that I can do all these things with them,” he notes joyfully. “They say, ‘My grandfather’s the strongest grandfather in the neighborhood!’. I have amazing joy in my life.”
He then adds, “I believe that God has given me these challenges to be a light for other people, to help them realize that they can be more than they think they can be.”
- Published in Athlete of the Month
Invest in Preventive Health to Stay in the Game
By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being
An athlete participates in a heart health screening at the National Senior Games in 2023.
As a Senior Games athlete, you are already getting health benefits from participating in sports. Staying active goes a long way toward lowering your risk for chronic disease and keeping you feeling strong. But even the most dedicated athletes aren’t immune to injuries, illness, or mental well-being challenges.
Avoiding preventable illnesses and injuries helps you stay in the game. Wellness services are priceless to older adults because they decrease time away from the things you love due to preventable illness.
Don’t Skip on Immunizations and Screenings
Consider the experience of legendary runner and Senior Games supporter Kathrine Switzer. A few years ago, she was sidelined by shingles, a painful condition that kept her from training and competing. Shingles is often preventable with a vaccine that’s widely recommended for older adults.
In addition to immunizations, regular health screenings are another powerful tool. They can catch issues early, sometimes before you even notice symptoms, when treatment is often more effective.
For example, early detection of colon cancer can make a significant difference in outcomes. And if certain conditions run in your family, those screenings become even more important.
Accessing Preventive Services
Knowledge is power in managing your health care. Resources like the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Preventive Services Tracker can help you understand what’s available and covered for each condition under the Affordable Care Act.
Medicare and Prevention: What to Know
If you’re on Medicare, you have access to a range of preventive services. The National Council on Aging suggests keeping the following key considerations in mind when accessing Medicare preventive health resources:
- Preventive care is covered whether you have Original Medicare or a Medicare Advantage plan.
- Some services are offered during regular visits—for example, your Annual Wellness Visit is covered at no cost.
- Medicare doesn’t cover a traditional annual physical, but it does include a one-time “Welcome to Medicare” visit and yearly wellness visits focused on prevention.
- It’s always a good idea to talk with your provider ahead of time so you know what to expect, including any potential costs.
Prevention Provides a Positive Return
Because of their effectiveness in reducing the cost of illness, many preventive health services and wellness screenings are provided at no cost. Some insurance plans even offer a financial incentive to use these benefits!
However, the return on investment of a prevention mindset goes beyond dollars and cents.
A prevention mindset helps you maximize your quality of life and healthspan while also providing a solid foundation to prepare for an outstanding Senior Games performance.
- Published in Health & Well-Being
Promise Made, Promise Kept
April 2026 Athlete of the Month
By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller
Bonita Robins, 87
Topeka, Kansas
Bowling, Cornhole
Bonita Robbins points to her name on the Humana name wall at the National Senior Games in 2025. Photo courtesy Bonita Robbins.
“Long Live the Challenge” is the motto of the National Senior Games, and the athletes who keep coming back to compete for decades are our best examples for active aging. 87-year-old Bonita Robins is amazed she has been bowling “every bit of 55 years” and has not missed a National Senior Games since 1995.
Bonita is a proud Kansas native, proclaiming, “I was born in Wamego, where the Wizard of Oz Museum is located.” Her journey is particularly inspiring because she shares she is not a natural athlete.
“Oh, heavens no,” she responds to the question. “At field day in middle school, I couldn’t run because I’d get a pain in my side when I started running, so that was it.” While she didn’t do much organized sports, her father wisely guided her to include physical activity in her life.
“He thought that girls needed to have something to do outside, and I was an only child, sitting in the house reading, doing stitchery crafts, that type of thing,” she recalls. “He thought I needed to be out in the sunshine, so he taught me how to pitch horseshoes.”
The activity struck a ringer, and it became the first sport she played regularly. Bonita didn’t begin bowling until after the second of her three children arrived in 1972. Her fitness routine became bowling in the winter and horseshoes in the summer, sometimes playing in as many as five bowling leagues at once.
She has earned local and state hall of fame recognition through her consistent participation and for serving on the local association board and helping run their senior tournaments for 20 years.
Photo courtesy Bonita Robbins.
She also became a certified coach to work with youth. “My Saturday mornings were spent at the bowling alley helping young kids improve their games,” she says. “I look back and think about all the kids that went on and took championships.”
Bonita began competing in the Kansas Senior Games when she aged up and has not missed a biennial National Senior Games since 1995. While she speaks proudly of the 19 national medals she has earned, she says maintaining her health and enjoying social connections through her sporting life are the real rewards. She also had an epiphany that shifted her focus to older adults.
The Senior Games Promise
Bonita says winning gold in her first National Senior Games in San Antonio made her stop and appreciate where she was in her life. “My partner and I were so shocked that we did that on our first try. We couldn’t believe we had done that,” she recalls.
“I looked at her and said, ‘You know what? I’m not real religious, but I’m going to make a vow to God right now. He has given me the privilege of winning this gold medal. I will do everything I can do in the future to promote Senior Olympics bowling, to get other people introduced into it, and follow it as long as I can.’ And that’s what I’ve done.”
When the Kansas Senior Games Advisory Council needed a secretary, she eagerly stepped into the role for 17 years, having had a long career in office administration. She also never misses a recruiting opportunity to tell others about Senior Games. The fact that Bonita has represented Kansas as a flag or sign bearer five times in the Parade of Athletes at Nationals testifies to her popularity and influence.
National Senior Games 2017 Parade of Athletes. Photo courtesy Bonita Robbins.
“This is all terrifically important to me,” she says earnestly. “I have made friends nationwide. I absolutely enjoy seeing them every two years. Sometimes it’s kind of hard to say goodbye when we leave, especially at our age now, because we don’t know if it will be the final goodbye. But you can’t replace that camaraderie. I tell everybody, you have no idea what it’s like until you experience it.”
Bonita also still competes in a second sport at Nationals, first with Horseshoes and now with Cornhole starting in 2022 after the former was discontinued. “I like cornhole. It involves your arm, eye and hand coordination. The bags are lighter than the horseshoes, too,” she explains. And, as years before, she was surprised to win two gold medals in her first try at the 2022 National Senior Games presented by Humana in Fort Lauderdale.
Through it all, Bonita is grateful to have had an active life with few medical problems and to have enjoyed perfect National Senior Games attendance for 30 years. Her advice to others at 87 is simple.
“Stay active. Try to eat healthy. Get a good night’s sleep. Because that’s very important for your body so it can repower for the next day. And every morning I wake up, I say, thank you God for another day.”
- Published in Athlete of the Month
Considering Senior Games? “Don’t Wait Until You Feel Ready”
Are you looking for a new challenge or spark after 50? Do you want to make a change for your health or find community?
During National Senior Games Week sponsored by CareScout, we’re sharing the stories of two athletes – Mark and Stefanie – who found more than they ever imagined through Senior Games.
Their stories may inspire you to take the leap to find or return to a sport you love. It’s never too late!
Image courtesy Mark Smith.
“I never dreamed retirement would be so fun.” – Mark Smith, Cycling
Mark Smith took up cycling again in his mid-50s after a 20-year break. He was struggling with his weight and type 2 diabetes, and the increase in physical activity improved both.
Retirement a few years later opened the door for Mark to double down on cycling and his health. The first year, he rode 10,000 miles; the following two years, 17,000 miles!
Another door opened when Mark saw a post about the Alabama Senior Olympics. He had missed the registration deadline, but committed himself to training for the next year. In 2024, Mike competed and qualified for the 2025 National Senior Games presented by Humana.
His eyes were locked on the new goal of competing at Nationals, and he increased his mileage even more. The work paid off – Mark earned 8th place in his age group for the 10K Time Trial.
“The health benefits of cycling have had a major impact in my life, but the wonderful people I have met along the way have been a true blessing. That family of people grew so much through both the Alabama Senior Olympics and the National Senior Games,” Mark shares.
“I love racing, but it is the friends I have made that will bring me back again. I never dreamed retirement would be so fun.”
Image courtesy Stefanie Batiste.
Don’t Wait Until You Feel “Ready” – Stefanie Batiste, Basketball
Like many young athletes, Stefanie Batiste dreamed of competing in the Olympics.
“…I imagined what it would feel like to represent something bigger than myself, to push my body to its limits, and to stand proud knowing I gave it everything I had,” she says. “I never imagined that at 60 years old, that dream would finally come true. Yet here I am, having competed in three Senior National Games, and my life has been forever changed.”
How did she get there?
Stefanie played a variety of sports growing up and competed in kickball nationally as an adult. In her mid-50s, she decided it was time to find a new sport. Or in this case, sports! Basketball and track & field were her picks.
She found a basketball team and competed in her first National Senior Games in 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. “That experience was unforgettable. Two weeks on the beach, surrounded by competition and camaraderie, reminded me why I loved sports so much,” Stefanie recalls.
Hungry for more, Stefanie formed a new team – the ATL Lady Hawks. She’s invested her heart, soul and financial resources in building the group, which now has teams in three age groups. Most recently, the ATL Lady Hawks overcame challenges and had a strong showing at the 2025 National Senior Games presented by Humana, finishing 1st, 4th and 6th.
For Stefanie, joining Senior Games changed her entire perspective.
“Competing again reminded me who I was at my core. It shifted my focus completely toward my health, my well-being, and living with intention. I train with purpose now. I eat better. I take care of my body. More importantly, I take care of my spirit.”
Her advice to others who are considering trying Senior Games?
“Just start. Don’t wait until you feel “ready.” Ready comes after you begin. You don’t have to be the fastest or strongest to belong if the desire is there; that’s enough. The bravest step is simply deciding to try. Once you do, confidence and strength will meet you along the way.”
Well said! Learn how to start your Senior Games journey at NSGA.com/start-here.
- Published in News and Events, Senior Games Blogs
Humana Returns as Presenting Sponsor of 2027 and 2029 National Senior Games
Senior athletes train with discipline and purpose — and for 20 years, Humana, Inc. has matched that commitment as presenting sponsor of the National Senior Games.
CLEARWATER, Fla. – The National Senior Games Association announced Wednesday that Humana will return as the presenting sponsor of the 2027 and 2029 National Senior Games, a biennial multi-sport championship for athletes ages 50 and over.
The 2027 National Senior Games presented by Humana will be held in Tulsa, Oklahoma, from June 30 to July 11, 2027. The event is expected to draw more than 12,500 participants to compete in 28 sports. In 2029, The Games will be hosted in Birmingham, Alabama.
“We’re grateful for Humana’s unwavering partnership in promoting active aging and providing a platform for older adults to compete on the national stage,” said Susan Hlavacek, NSGA President & CEO. “As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of The Games, we are excited to foster the continued growth of senior athletics with Humana’s support.”
The National Senior Games is part of the broader Senior Games movement, which champions physical activity and social connection through local, state and national level events.
“For more than two decades, Humana has been inspired by the athletes of the National Senior Games. Their dedication reflects the heart of Humana’s purpose: helping people achieve their best health through physical, mental and social well-being,” said David Dintenfass, Humana’s President of Enterprise Growth. “We’re honored to support a community that shows us what is possible when passion, resilience and connection guide the way.”
Sports offered at the event continue to expand, providing opportunities for a wide range of athletes to participate. New to the lineup for 2027 are bocce, climbing, flag football, dance and shooting.
Many National Senior Games sports require qualification through a 2026 State Senior Games, while select sports are open to all adults ages 50+. Learn more at NSGA.com.
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About the National Senior Games Association
The National Senior Games Association, Inc. (NSGA) is a nonprofit corporation that promotes the benefits of competitive sports, physical fitness and active aging to adults 50+. NSGA is an Affiliate Organization Council Member of the United States Olympic Paralympic Committee and produces the biennial National Senior Games, one of the largest multi-sport events in the world for athletes ages 50+. The Association is comprised of 52 independent Member Games that conduct qualifying competition events. For more information, visit NSGA.com and follow @SeniorGames1 on social media.
About Humana
Humana (NYSE:HUM) is a leading U.S. healthcare company. Through our Humana insurance services and our CenterWell healthcare services, we strive to make it easier for the millions of people we serve to achieve their best health – delivering the care and service they need, when they need it. These efforts are leading to a better quality of life for people with Medicare and Medicaid, families, individuals, military service personnel, and communities at large. Learn more about what we offer at Humana.com and at CenterWell.com.
- Published in News and Events, Press Releases
Active Recovery: Speed Up Healing with Tai Chi and Qigong
By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being
You train hard to be the best you can be in your sport. But do you spend enough time on your workout recovery?
Athletic fitness is built through the process of exercise overload, where we gradually increase the duration, amount and frequency of exercise. A good training program allows our body to handle incrementally greater amounts of work.
Our bodies adapt to the stress of workouts, and our muscles, bones and cardiovascular system increase their capacities. Over time, we can exert more strength and perform at a higher intensity. Simply put, we’re more fit!
Recovery is Essential to Training
A key element in this process is rest and recovery. Athletes who want to optimize their conditioning process to qualify for the National Senior Games need to include healthy workout recovery strategies in their training programs.
In addition to sleep, our bodies need an appropriate mix of low- and high-intensity workouts to replenish energy stores and support muscle recovery and growth. Being mindful of effective post-workout recovery is essential.
Including active and passive recovery strategies supports the adaptation and overload process.
Examples of passive recovery are:
- Massage guns
- Cold and heat therapy
- Therapeutic massage
- Assisted stretching
Common active recovery strategies include:
- Low-intensity workouts
- Body weight workouts
- Walking
- Light jogging
- Cycling
These activities create movement, increasing blood flow throughout the body.
Tai Chi as a Workout Recovery Strategy
Although not commonly considered active recovery, Tai Chi and Qigong meet the criteria for effective recovery strategies. They increase circulation enough to facilitate the movement of nutrients needed for the repair and growth of energy systems, bone, connective tissue and muscles.
Existing for centuries, Tai Chi for health and Qigong are series of movements commonly used for health and healing in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). Research has found both are beneficial for health and well-being. Tai Chi for health is rooted in the internal branch of Chinese martial arts known as Tai Chi Chuan.
Tai Chi for health is a series of movements that flow from one form to another. When practiced primarily for health, Tai Chi can be considered a form of moving Qigong.
This continuous movement over several minutes makes Tai Chi an effective recovery activity to integrate into one’s overall training plan.
Learning Tai Chi for Health
It is best to learn both Tai Chi for health and Qigong from a teacher. Look for classes at Chinese martial arts schools and cultural centers, recreation centers, YMCAs, and in community education classes at colleges, hospitals, and HMOs. The Arthritis and Parkinson’s Foundations also offer Tai Chi for health.
Online introductory resources include the following.
- For an introduction and a free lesson, watch the “Tai Chi for Beginners Video” by Dr. Paul Lam.
- For more on Qigong, see “Qigong: What You Need to Know.”
- National Veteran Golden Age Games athletes can get specific Tai Chi for health information from the Veterans Administration here.
Tai Chi for the Long Run
In addition to being a great training recovery strategy, Tai Chi Chuan is one of the newest National Senior Games sports. It will be an Open Sport for the 2027 National Senior Games, meaning anyone age 50 or older by Dec. 31, 2026, can compete.
Tai Chi Chuan is a perfect second sport to add for the 2027 Games. Athletes can participate in Tai Chi Chuan across a lifetime (the oldest competitor at the 2025 Games was 93!) – extending your Senior Games journey for the long run.
- Published in Health & Well-Being
Hoops & Hops
March 2026 Athlete of the Month
By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller
Kinney Baughman, 72
Vilas, North Carolina
Basketball
Photo courtesy Kinney Baughman.
Some people stand out in a room. In the midst of the boisterous action and noise of men’s Basketball at the 2025 National Senior Games presented by Humana, Kinney Baughman quietly drew our attention as he stood courtside. While Kinney is tall, it was his Einstein-esque hairdo, piercing eyes and beaming smile that struck us.
The kicker was glancing down to see that he was barefoot. Does he really play basketball barefoot?
“No, I just don’t like to wear shoes between games because I want my feet to dry out,” he replies with a laugh. “But yeah, I’m an old country boy from South Carolina. I grew up going barefoot and have always had a barefoot running style.”
Kinney reveals he’s a lifelong athlete. He enjoys running, but his main sport is basketball. He was the first from his small high school to obtain an athletic scholarship (to Appalachian State University) and went on to compete professionally in Europe for one year as a young adult.
Decades later, he found Senior Games and opened a new chapter that includes returning to international basketball competition as a masters athlete.
“I just never saw this coming,” he says. “If you told me that I’d still be playing competitive basketball on the level that I’m playing at 72 years old, I’d have said you’re out of your mind. All of a sudden, I find myself with this organization and making friends. It’s been great.”
Kinney, #8, competing with the Land of Waterfalls team at the 2025 National Senior Games presented by Humana.
A Brush with Greatness, and the Country Boy Goes to Belgium
One college highlight was playing for Press Maravich, father of the legendary “Pistol Pete” Maravich, when the coach came to Appalachian State University from LSU.
“I idolized Pete because we’re about the same body type. I thought it was the greatest thing in the world that I was going to be playing for Press Maravich,” he recalls.
It did not turn out quite as he hoped at first. “I was recruited by the former coach, and I rode the bench most of that senior year,” he laments. But when his team was taking a beating by the Citadel later in the season, Maravich threw Kinney into the game in exasperation. He did not disappoint and played a significant role for the rest of the season. He even asked Kinney to join a team he was going to coach in Sweden after he graduated, but at the time, it didn’t work out.
After earning his philosophy degree, Kinney built log cabins and helped a close friend restore the Profile Trail on nearby Grandfather Mountain while waiting for his next inspiration. But the seed was planted, and three years later, Kinney was invited to play roundball for a pro team in Belgium – a life-altering experience.
“The year in Belgium was the best year of my life in so many ways – the culture, the language, the people, and the best beer in the world! For a redneck boy from Wagener, South Carolina, to go over there and have those experiences was just unreal.”
Kinney then obtained a teaching fellowship on his way to a masters degree from the University of Georgia, where he played intramural basketball to feed his sports fix. Kinney returned to North Carolina after earning his degree and eventually launched a 30-year career as a professor of philosophy and interdisciplinary studies at Appalachian State. He then transitioned to a technology career in Internet programming and computer support.
But he is better known as a pioneer in the craft beer brewing revolution of the ‘80s, and his journey to Belgium helped inspire him to try home brewing.
Kinney earned the nickname “Bubbleman” for delighting attendees at local festivals with giant bubbles. Photo courtesy Kinney Baughman.
“Bubbleman” Slam Dunks as a Brewmaster
“I ordered a beer-making kit from an ad in Mother Earth News and brewed my first batch of beer in 1980,” he says. “I wondered if you can make a beer as good as Budweiser at home. My beer came out really good, and I thought, ‘The hell with Bud – this is my ticket back to Belgium!’”
He did not return to Belgium, but his beer prowess led him to become brewmaster at the second craft brewery in North Carolina. Being a self-described gadgeteer, Kinney also invented an upside-down fermentation system and traveled around the country selling it. He then became an award-winning head craft brewer at the Tumbleweed Grille in Boone.
Kinney has also become known in the region as “Bubbleman” because he often brings a bubble gun to events like the High Country Beer Festival and whimsically blows bubbles for everyone.
Discovering A New Basketball Chapter Through Senior Games
The next turn in Kinney’s storied life came when he learned about the North Carolina Senior Games in 2007. After years of playing pickup games with other faculty, he was amazed he was on a team again, enjoying local and state competitions and winning medals.
Since playing in his first National Senior Games in 2015, Kinney’s teams have won two silver medals, so earning gold is high on his bucket list for Tulsa in 2027. “I want that so bad I can taste it!”
Kinney and teammates at the 2022 National Senior Games presented by Humana. Photo courtesy Kinney Baughman.
Injuries have almost convinced Kinney to quit at times, but the rewards have been worth it. “I didn’t realize how much being on a basketball team was in my DNA. There’s just a brotherhood there that’s unmatched,” he asserts.
Kinney is also stunned that his journey has led him back to playing basketball in Europe. At Nationals in 2022, Darrell Cavanaugh, the captain of the Capo Classics team Kinney played against, urged him to join his Team USA in the FIMBA championship series, informally called “The World Cup,” which draws from 250,000 masters players around the world. He will travel to Portugal this summer for his third international masters event.
Team USA and Team Italy at an international masters basketball competition. Photo courtesy Kinney Baughman.
In recent years, Kinney was invited to join the North Carolina Senior Games Board of Directors, which he humbly accepted. “I was an ambassador for the local and state games already, and I’m kind of a big personality, so they knew they could count on me for a good media quote,” he says.
“Being asked to serve on this board was one of the greatest honors of my life,” he continues. “I love Senior Games, and I love all those people. And I’m lucky North Carolina has one of the strongest programs in the country.”
- Published in Athlete of the Month
Protect Yourself from Health and Fitness Misinformation and Fraud
By Andrew Walker, MPH; NSGA Director of Health & Well-Being
Health fraud, false fitness claims and scams cost older adults billions in financial losses and unnecessary distress.
A scam recently affected a member of the National Senior Games Association, the National Veterans Golden Age Games, whose event is free. A consumer alert from the Federal Trade Commission found that Veterans are reporting websites or social media pages that charge a fee to register. These sites were found to be fakes.
How to Spot Health Misinformation
Knowing what questions to ask is an essential consumer health skill. The National Institute on Aging (NIA) suggests using the following questions to assess online information.
- What is the purpose of the website, and who owns or sponsors it? Knowing this background helps you understand whether the website’s motive is to provide unbiased content or to generate more sales.
- Who wrote the information? Who reviewed it? This is important because the site’s content should be provided by one or more experts in the field and not based on testimonials.
- When was the information written and updated? Science changes over time, and it’s essential to have the most recent evidence.
- Does the website offer quick and easy solutions to your health problems? Does it promise miracle cures? Confirm unique cures with licensed health providers.
The above questions can also apply to social media. Asking the right questions is important when it comes to social media fitness trends. It acts as a check on influencers, keeping them accountable, especially when they reap financial benefits.
According to the NIA, no government agency approves ads before they go public. They note that Federal law requires sellers that market cures to have scientific evidence to back up their claims, but dishonest companies might not. Ads must be truthful — not misleading.
For reliable sources of information about diseases and their treatments, the FTC recommends that you visit:
- MedlinePlus.gov, a site operated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- NIH’s National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, which has information about alternative and complementary medicine
- Healthfinder.gov, a trusted Health and Human Services site
We can’t prevent all fraud, scams, schemes and losses; however, strong consumer health skills increase the odds in your favor. The FTC encourages you to share your wisdom about avoiding swindles and fraud with the older adults in your life.
Pass It On: Fraud Education Campaign for Older Adults
You can take action to help others by being part of Pass It On, the FTC’s fraud education campaign for older adults. It has clear, direct advice about more than a dozen fraud topics.
At ftc.gov/PassItOn, you can:
- Read articles
- Download resources, like activity sheets and bookmarks
- Watch videos about frauds that target older adults
Too Good to be True!
Avoiding exploitation comes from applying common sense and accumulated wisdom. It reminds me of a time-tested adage that holds true today: if it sounds too good to be true, it’s probably not true!
Applying this adage and practicing consumer health skills will reduce your chances of being a victim of health schemes and misinformation.
- Published in Health & Well-Being
Women of the Senior Games: Strong at Every Age
Breaking barriers is second nature for women who compete in Senior Games.
Many of them grew up before Title IX, with little to no opportunities to participate in sports as youth. Today, as older adults, they’re defying the narrative that they’re “too old” to compete in sports.
You’ll find them tearing up the community track, logging laps at the neighborhood pool and challenging themselves with new sports. They’re putting in the work to achieve their personal best.
Photo by: Dave Fujii
In honor of National Girls & Women in Sports Day, we celebrate the incredible female athletes who participate in Senior Games.
They’re strong. They’re resilient. They’re committed.
They create a welcoming community for other women. They inspire us.
To these athletes: Thank you for showing the next generation of girls and women that sport belongs to them — at every age.
- Published in Senior Games Blogs
This Pitcher is Throwing Strikes and Plot Twists
February 2026 Athlete of the Month
By Del Moon, NSGA Storyteller
Brenda “B.J.” Jones, 65
Clarksville, Tennessee
Softball
Image courtesy Brenda Jones.
Maintaining an active lifestyle is essential, but it’s just one aspect of robust aging. Finding social connections and keeping your brain engaged are also key to longevity.
Senior softball pitching ace Brenda Jones has known this intuitively for her entire life and is excited to now have time to explore her creative side as an author.
“I’ve been playing softball ever since I was like six years old, and I finally published my first book at the age of 58,” the Tennessee native shares. “It’s never too late to try something new that’s going to improve you.”
A Lifelong Love of Sports
Brenda, known by most as B.J., is proud to be a late-blooming author, but it’s clear her entire life has revolved around sports. She grew up in a blended family with 13 siblings in Union City, a small west Tennessee town with one high school. All she cared about was reading books and if there were enough kids around to play basketball and softball.
By the time she became a teenager, B.J. was playing on a mostly adult community softball team that went on the road in the summers. “We’d get in our cars and go to different places – Jackson, Tennessee, Cairo, Illinois, Dyersburg, Tennessee – just wherever we could find teams to play,” she recalls.
Image courtesy Brenda Jones.
There was always time to play ball, even throughout her 26-year career as a banking compliance officer and busy mother. She also found her wedding diamond on a diamond, so to speak.
“I went to watch some neighborhood guys play baseball, and that’s where I first saw this really cute guy, and he ended up becoming my husband, Anthony. We’re both pitchers, and he had a college career at Middle Tennessee State. We’ve been married for 42 years, so that was a nice perk!”
A competitive nature led B.J. to embrace the role of a pitcher. “You’re the captain of the team out there, right? Everything starts and ends with what you do on the mound,” she says. “The mental battle never stops. If I walk somebody, I have to push ‘reset’ from batter to batter and inning to inning. Pitchers can’t take what happened in the prior inning back to the mound. We have to remain engaged the entire time and focus on one batter at a time.” She then adds, “I pray a lot on the mound.”
“My accuracy is not always what it should be,” she continues with a growing smile. But when I’m on, there’s nothing more exciting than striking someone out looking. I love that!”
Finding “Extra Innings” with Senior Games
In her late 40s, B.J. was playing on a women’s league team and was invited to play in the Nashville qualifier for the 2011 National Senior Games presented by Humana in Houston. She turned 50 in time to join the team and fell in love with her team experience.
B.J. continued playing regional tournaments with various teams until she was invited to join the East Coast Gems in 2018. The team, now in the 60+ division and called Gems Next Level, has kept its core players and found success, winning division gold medals at the National Senior Games in 2023 & 2025. They also have won gold the past two years against strong competition at the Huntsman World Senior Games.
“I love my teammates. These ladies started out as my friends, and now they’re my family,” she says. “When we play in Nashville, I live 45 minutes from the ballfield and will host teammates and a barbecue. One time, I had eight of my teammates come stay at my house, and I loved every minute of it.”
The Gems Next Level at the 2025 National Senior Games presented by Humana. Image courtesy Brenda Jones.
She says softball also taught her lessons about perseverance. “I ruptured my Achilles on my right foot during a softball game, and it was the hardest thing for me to be away from it,” she says. “But I appreciated the sport more, and it made me work harder to rehab so I could get back out here. So, even if a challenge comes, don’t be afraid of the challenge, because you can grow through it.”
The Author Emerges
B.J. has been writing poetry as a hobby since grade school, but during her banking career writing was mostly relegated to communications and analytical regulatory reports. Eventually, she was able to follow the dream of becoming an author and penned her first novel, “Not Yet a Woman,” which earned a Distinguished Favorite award for women’s literature in 2019.
Eight years later, she is still writing and has her own “W.C. Child” webpage. The third novel of her planned trilogy will be completed in 2026. She has also produced a spiritual guide and two books of poetry, but relishes being a storyteller. “I love the challenge. I like writing because I get to be somebody else through the characters.”
Speaking of being someone else, we asked why she uses W.C. Child as her pseudonym. “My father, Willmor Caldwell, never got a chance to see me publish a book. To honor him, my pen name stands for “Willmor Caldwell’s Child.”
Acting on a dream to become a writer in midlife has empowered Brenda to share advice with friends. “If you ever stop wanting to grow and take on new ideas, then you’re mentally defeated. It’s never too late,” she says, adding, “We also all need people around us. We were not meant to walk through this life alone. And even if we don’t always agree, I get to learn something about you, and you get to learn something about me.”
Watch an interview with Brenda at the 2025 National Senior Games presented by Humana below!
- Published in Athlete of the Month