95 and thriving: Arlene Miller finds strength in Cardiopulmonary Rehab

By Emma Avila, epackard1@iuhealth.org, writer for IU Health’s Metro Region

At 95, Arlene Miller stays active and inspired through Cardiopulmonary Rehab at IU Health Fishers, combining faith, discipline and fitness to maintain her health and mobility.

At 95 years old, Arlene Miller is active with her family and in her church. She’s also just active. Miller has always been an advocate for exercise but contracting COVID-19 a few years ago temporarily slowed her down.

“I thought I would never have heart trouble because I walked three miles a day,” she says. “I got COVID, and God said, ‘You’re mortal like everyone else.’”

Miller went into atrial fibrillation, or AFib, a common heart arrhythmia causing a fast, irregular heartbeat due to chaotic electrical signals in the upper heart chambers. That’s how she wound up in Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation at IU Health Fishers.

Now, she is in the maintenance phase of the program. She comes in to exercise three times a week, under the watchful eyes of the highly skilled team.

“The staff here is very thoughtful, and they watch out for you,” Miller says.

Michelle Wolf, a registered nurse in Cardiopulmonary Rehab, has been working closely with Miller for years.

“She’s not your typical 95-year-old,” Wolf says. “I think she serves to inspire because she’s just a very positive person, but she doesn’t know her reach of inspiration.”

Wolf and the rest of the team work with patients to create an individualized exercise program, catered to each person’s specific needs. For Miller, that includes walking, the seated elliptical, and the bike.

Miller typically brings some of her church hymns to practice as she works out. She’s noticed an improvement in her mobility since starting in the department.

“It’s proof that discipline can improve and sustain a person’s mobility as they age as well as their mental acuity,” Wolf says.

“Well, I’m very grateful for it,” Miller adds, stressing how much she appreciates the team. “I thank God that he makes beautiful people like this.”