When Antoinette Altemus saw her mother becoming frail, she googled “adult fitness classes online” and discovered VIVO, a program promoting physical fitness and cognitive engagement for older adults that transformed not only her mother’s life, but also her own.

Altemus, a Registered ER Nurse in Fort Worth, Texas, had a wide-ranging career: working as a hospital administrator, taking a company public and earning a PhD in Psychology along the way. At 71, she had decided that retirement wasn’t for her and she wasn’t ready to slow down. 

So Altemus joined VIVO’s care team, where she helps older adults meet with trainers to build strength, balance and coordination through weekly or biweekly workout classes. “I feel the vitality of life more now than I ever have,” she says. 

Check out this week’s GrandPeople feature to learn more about Altemus’ story, including how she found new purpose in her most recent next act.

GrandPeople is a co-production of SCL and the Longevity Project with support from AARP, chronicling the stories of older adults living purposeful, fun and meaningful lives.