‘A Matter of Balance’ Training Can Help Prevent Falls

LARSO News:

Have you had a fall or are you worried about having one? Do you know someone who’s had a fall or is fearful of falling? There’s a class for that! 

A five-session training course to be offered 9:45-11:45 a.m. starting Monday, June 2, at the Betty Ehart Senior Center. Trainings will be each Monday morning through June 30.

The training, known as “A Matter of Balance,” is based on research done at Boston University and is nationally recognized as an excellent way to help people reduce the incidence of falling. Every session will include an exercise component.

The instructors are personal trainer Loretta Stubbs and Senior Center Director Pauline Schneider. The suggested donation is $25 and the purchase of a Theraband for $4 is recommended. Contact the Betty Ehart Center at 505.662.8920 to register.

Topics to be covered:                  

  • Concerns About Falling
  • Preventing Falls & Fractures
  • Improving Your Balance
  • Recognizing & Changing Fall-ty Habits
  • Home Safety Issues & Solutions

Contact the Betty Ehart Center at 662-8920 to register.

According to the Administration for Community Living, “unintentional injuries to this population (seniors) result in at least 6 million medically treated injuries and more than 30,000 deaths every year.”

Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for those aged 65 and over. More than 21,700 older adults die from falls each year, and every 15 seconds, an older adult is seen in an Emergency Department for a fall-related injury.

The direct medical cost of falls is currently estimated to top $36 billion annually and is expected to grow to nearly $62 billion by 2020. New Mexico is second in the nation for senior falls.

Yet falls are not a normal part of aging, and they can be prevented through a combination of interventions. These include exercising, getting a fall risk assessment, reviewing medications, having vision and hearing checked, and making the home environment safe. More tips are available at www.ncoa.org/FallsPrevention.

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