Betty, a Kaiser Permanente member from San Diego, is a retired social worker who enjoys walks in Balboa Park and sunsets on the beach, quilting, and the local arts scene. A lifelong fitness enthusiast, she has also experienced several injuries, including a fractured hip from a fall 

While recovering from a rotator cuff injury from another fall, Betty was referred to physical therapy, which she ultimately found to be “too rigid and static.” Then her plan sent her information about Bold. It was the solution she’d been waiting for.

Finding what is “doable”

From the beginning with Bold, Betty appreciated that Bold was “doable” — each class gave her the right amount of challenge and a sense of accomplishment. “The instructors encourage people to work at their own level,” she said. “And yet the things that they do work really fast. Within a week of starting Bold, I was walking more steadily and just feeling upbeat. There was hope.”

Betty also has hearing difficulties and wears hearing aids much of the time, which has caused her to step back from attending some group fitness classes. She appreciates Bold’s accessibility for the hard of hearing, and her ability to build strength and balance from the comfort of home.

Something different from the usual

Betty has access to a local gym and does weekly Pilates classes. But she views Bold as separate and distinct. For her, it comes down to independence. While Betty manages chronic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis and Raynaud's syndrome, her primary goal with Bold is simple and clear: “to not fall down.” She views fall prevention as key to living a full life.

“The loss of your physical self leads to loss of independence,” she said. “You want to stand up straight and be counted — not be the little old person who gets pushed to the side.”

Rapid progress and spreading the word

Betty’s success with Bold has inspired her to become an advocate for the program, recommending Bold to long-time friends in Austin and Portland who are navigating their own fears of physical decline. She highlights the platform as a positive, non-judgmental way to build strength, balance, and flexibility right at home.

For Betty, maintaining her fitness is about moving forward with confidence and safety. “For me, it's keeping my feet on the ground, not having my feet leave the ground unless I intend for them to,” she said. 

As for the future? “My hope is that I'll be better than ever.”