Senior Beat
by Carol Higgins Taylor
Special to The Weekly
I’ve seen it happen time and again. A senior falls and, even if not injured, a change comes about. There is a thoughtfulness about activities. The fall is always in the back of the mind. I took a spill when my shoe caught on the lip of a threshold. I always eye that threshold carefully now as I make an exaggerated step over it as if it is going to jump up and trip me.
Many seniors live with the fear of falling, which can be almost as dangerous as falling itself, just in a different way. Those who develop this fear often limit their activities, resulting in physical deconditioning, making the risk of falling even greater. It is a vicious cycle. The less active you are in the hopes of preventing a fall, the more likely you are to take a tumble because your muscles have lost some strength.
Also, many older adults experience increased isolation and depression when they limit their interactions with family and friends. Imagine not going to church or lunch with a friend or to grandchildren’s birthday parties. A Matter of Balance classes can help people improve their quality of life and remain independent.
The course is held in eight two-hour sessions, once a week for eight weeks, or twice a
week for four weeks.
Here is what to expect from the classes:
- You will start to view falls and fear of falling as controllable.
- You will be guided to set realistic goals for increasing activity.
- You will learn how to change your home environment to reduce fall risk factors such as
removing area or scatter rugs.
- You will perform exercises that will increase strength and balance.
All of this will be accomplished by group discussion, problem-solving with each other, role-playing and skill building, assertiveness training, exercise training, watching videotapes and
investigating practical solutions to your concerns regarding falls.
And this class is beneficial to anyone who is 60 or older, concerned about falls, has had a fall in the past, is restricting activities because of concerns about falling, is interested in improving flexibility, balance and strength.
The classes are designed for small groups of 10 to 12 participants and the curriculum
includes videotapes, lectures, group discussions, problem solving, role-playing, exercise training, assertiveness training and home assignments.
It is really comprehensive, said Lisa Dunning, health programs manager at Eastern Area Agency on Aging.
Sound like fun? It is. And the lessons learned can last a lifetime keeping the senior independent longer.
“This program acknowledges seniors’ fear of falling but uses practical, everyday solutions to help them overcome it,” said Dunning. “Some of the aspects of the program are, along with increased activity, reducing risk factors and tripping hazards at home, ways to gain strength and viewing falls differently. Which is as a controllable thing. It’s important to fully address the fears about falling, and really explore with the class ways to prevent falls and injuries in the first place.”
The classes also focuses on exercises to improve strength, endurance and balance.
The next Matter of Balance six-week class begins 1-3 p.m. Tuesday, March 31, at the
EAAA Annex location at the Airport Mall, Union Street, Bangor.
“Class size is limited,” said Dunning, who recommends registering as soon as possible.
“This is a free program, too. If someone wants to keep the book we use, they just pay $8.”
For information about the Matter of Balance classes or to register, call 941-2865 or email healthprograms@eaaa.org.
Carol Higgins Taylor is an advocate for seniors and owns a public relations firm in Bangor.
Email her at seniorbeat@gmail.com.