Local Programs Designed to Reduce Falls in Older Adults

      Most anyone involved with seniors understands the significance and implications of falls in older adults. According to the Pennsylvania Department of aging, falls are the most common cause of injury in older adults. One out of three people over age 65 will fall at least once a year, and most falls occur in people's own homes while performing regular daily activities. Half of those who break a hip after a fall do not fully recover, and almost half of those who enter a nursing home do so because of a fall.

      The Pennsylvania Department of Aging, in partnership with the University of California at Berkeley, developed a program to help adults 50 years of age and older learn how to stay active, make their home safer, manage medications, improve nutrition and learn about other resources to reduce the risks for falls. The program, called "Healthy Steps in Motion,"consists of two, 2 hour sessions, and participants receive a booklet as part of the program. More information can be obtained at the program's web site here. An excerpt from the class booklet can be found here.

     The program is open to any of the 4.5 million Pennsylvanians over the age of 50. A University of Pittsburgh Graduate School of Public Health study conducted in 2010 and 2011 among nearly 2,000 elderly residents, discovered that the program reduced falls in elderly persons by 17 percent.

   To enroll in this valuable program, contact the local  Area Agency on Aging for the program site nearest to you. New Horizons Senior Center in Narberth is one of our local senior centers that hosts the program.

     For those interested in continuing the effort to reduce falls, nearly every local senior center has a weekly exercise program. The program at the New Horizons Senior Center in Narberth PA is called, appropriately, "Healthy Steps in Motion."  The class takes place at 10:30 AM on Mondays, and 12:45 PM on Thursdays. The cost is only $1 a session for Members, $2 a session for Non-Members.  Stop by 100 Conway Avenue, 2nd Floor, Narberth, for more information, or call 610 664-2366.

I had an opportunity to attend and participate in the Healthy Steps class, and speak with the instructor, Agnes Palena, of Ardmore PA. The idea behind the class is to gradually improve strength and health through simple movement exercises, and also to meet neighbors and socialize at least once a week. Participants are not required to complete every exercise. For example, I was able to complete some exercises with a 3 pound weight on my arm or leg, but many of my classmates forgo the idea of using a weight at all. The age of my classmates ranged from 55 to 95, and although our physical abilities differed, everyone was having a good time.  Below are some photos from my visit last week. Thanks to my classmates who helped me in my first class, and who also volunteered for pictures.

Stay well until the next post.

Bob Gasparro

 

 The New Horizons Senior Center is temporarily housed at the Narberth Firehouse. The location is 100 Conway Ave,  2nd floor, Narberth Pa.

 Here, the program director Agnes Palena (in red), is directing the class. To her right, Dot Foster and Betty Latini, both of Ardmore PA follow her lead. Can you guess which of these pupils is 95 years of age? I won't tell.

 Some exercises were simple, such as a march around the chairs. But then we had to do the same exercise walking backward (not as simple).

As you can see, some of the class wore weights on their arm or leg while conducting the strengthening exercises. However, both the size of the weight and the use of any weight at all is optional.