Checklist for Choosing an Age-Friendly Personal Trainer

1. Does the trainer have at least two years of experience as a trainer?

Trainer: yes no notes

Trainer: yes no notesON EXPERIENCE:

Questions to Ask

2. Does that include experience training clients my age?

3. Will the exercise program be based on an individual assessment of my goals, abilities andhealth status?

4. Has the trainer worked with people with my medical conditions(e.g., arthritis, diabetesor back pain)?

5. Has the trainer worked before witha physical therapistor a physician?

6. Does the trainer knowabout exercise limitationfor the medicines Itake?

This checklist is an adaption of the "Age-Friendly Personal Trainer Checklist"developed by the International Council on Active Aging (www.icaa.cc) and isused with ICAA's permission.

Checklist for Choosing an Age-Friendly Personal TrainerTrainer: yes no notes

Trainer: yes no notesON EDUCATION

Questions to Ask

This checklist is an adaption of the "Age-Friendly Personal Trainer Checklist"developed by the International Council on Active Aging (www.icaa.cc) and isused with ICAA's permission.

1. Does the trainer have education in exercisesciences and programdesign?

2. Is there specific education in gerentologyor the changes that occur as people age?

3. Does the trainer havea personal trainingcertification?

4. Is there a resource(advisory board, professor, colleagues)the trainer uses toanswer questions andgenerate ideas?

5. Does the trainer feelthat you should "workthrough" pain duringexercise? (The answershould be "no".)

6. Does the trainer recommend a diet orsupplement? (Theanswer should be "no" unless the trainer is alsoa registered nurse orlicensed dietician.)

Checklist for Choosing an Age-Friendly Personal TrainerTrainer: yes no notes

Trainer: yes no notesON PERSONALITY

Questions to Ask

This checklist is an adaption of the "Age-Friendly Personal Trainer Checklist"developed by the International Council on Active Aging (www.icaa.cc) and isused with ICAA's permission.

1.The trainer has toldme what to expect from the sessions.

2. My time commitment,including days exercising on my own,is clear.

3. The trainer seems tohave a sense of humorand personality thatI like.

4. The trainer listenedcarefully to my questions and answered them.

5. The clothes, postureand verbal skills area good match for me.

6. I think I can spendseveral hours a weekwith this trainer.

Checklist for Choosing an Age-Friendly Personal TrainerTrainer: yes no notes

Trainer: yes no notesON BUSINESS PRACTICES

Questions to Ask

This checklist is an adaption of the "Age-Friendly Personal Trainer Checklist"developed by the International Council on Active Aging (www.icaa.cc) and isused with ICAA's permission.

1. The trainer can workin my home (if applicable).

2. I will receive writteninvoices and records ofmy sessions for my family and insurancecompany.

3. The trainer offers other services I'm interested in, e.g.,referral to a dietician ormassage therapist.

4. The costs of the session are clearlystated.

5. There is a cancellation policy Iunderstand.

6. The trainer will giveme references to pastclients.

7. If coming to the house, the trainer is insured or bonded.