Whether it’s chasing his granddaughter around or jumping into the pool with her, Jim Brandmeyer entered retirement with a new purpose: To be the best grandpa he can be.
"I’ve got friends who can’t do that with their grandchildren because of health issues, and I don’t want to be that guy,” Jim said. “I want to be remembered as the fun grandad, and being active enables me to be able to do that.”
After watching his own dad battle declining health as he aged, Jim knew he needed to prioritize an active lifestyle to ensure he didn’t go down the same path. He saw what smoking, a poor diet and a lack of exercise did to his father and recalls how difficult it was to watch him battle cardiovascular disease near the end.
“Seeing the struggles my dad had, I just said, ‘Jim, you’re not ever going to get yourself in that position,’” he said. “You’re not going to be a burden like that on anybody.”
To help him stay active, Jim enrolled in a UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage plan, which includes Renew Active™ – the gold standard in Medicare fitness programs for body and mind — featuring a gym membership, an online brain health program and access to local health and wellness events.
With this benefit, he’s able to go to two gyms within less than a mile of his home. Jim looks forward to getting up and riding his bike to one of the gyms nearly every day, where he’ll spend an hour and a half to two hours.
“The feeling you get when you come home once you get done, it’s just something that I will be doing ‘til I can’t do it anymore,” he said.
He enjoys mixing up his routine, some days focusing on aerobic exercise and others, working on resistance training. Some days he’ll even get his hair trimmed and grab lunch at the gym’s café.
His passion for staying active helps keep him ready for his next adventure, and he encourages others to do the same.
“The best thing you can do for yourself is to start today,” Jim said, “because a year from now you’re gonna wish you had.”
For more information about Renew Active, visit www.UHCRenewActive.comOpens a new window. To learn more about UnitedHealthcare’s Medicare plans, including those that offer Renew Active, visit UHCMedicareHealthPlans.comOpens a new window.
