A Matter of Balance

A Turn-Key Solution to Fall Prevention: Keep Your Seniors Safe

The terror of a tumble!

One third of seniors fall every year.  As many or more live in fear of falling.

A fall can be life changing for a senior.  They endure everything from bruises and cuts to brain injuries and hip fractures.  And falls are the leading injury that causes death. Even those who get to their feet unscathed physically often suffer a nagging dread of falling.  And those who haven’t fallen often sense they are not as strong and steady as they used to be and adopt the same fears.

In fact, studies show seniors fear falling more than robbery, loss of financial independence, or health concerns. It affects them emotionally, mentally and socially.  Every routine activity, climbing the stairs, attending a social event or taking a shower, becomes perilous in their minds, if not in reality. Seniors stop doing what they love, and move to the sidelines of life, trying to avoid the fall that could change their lives.

The result is they become isolated, depressed and, ironically, weaker and less able to avoid falls.

Don’t Let Falls Steal Your Seniors

Whether you run a continuing care retirement community, assisted living center, senior center, church or other organization that caters to seniors, you want to keep your seniors happy, healthy and with you as long as possible.

Now you can empower your senior residents and members to avoid falls and conquer their fears with an award-winning educational and exercise program.  It shows them how to increase their activity levels and be safer.

And it’s turn-key. Just open your doors, provide a comfortable meeting area, sign up ten to twelve seniors and we make it happen.

A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns about Falls

It’s an educational and exercise program based on research conducted by the Roybal Center for Enhancement of Late-Life Function at Boston University and developed for a wider-audience by Maine Health, through a grant from the Administration on Aging.  Licensed trainers across the country teach this program, and now Pam Rakoczy, OTR/L is bringing it to the Philadelphia’s Main Line, as well as Chester and Delaware Counties, Pennsylvania. It can help mobile seniors who are doing less and becoming weaker because they fear they will fall.

Seniors learn to:

• Control falls.
• Make changes in their homes that reduce the likelihood of falls
• Exercise to increase strength and balance.
• Set goals to increase activity levels.

It changes their lives:

• Seniors gain confidence to get out and about, socialize and do more.
• They are less likely to be lonely or depressed due to isolation.
• Seniors substantially reduce the chance of a life-changing fall.

An award winning program

‘A Matter of Balance’ has won the Healthcare and Aging Award from the American Society on Aging; and, the Innovations and Achievements Award from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging.

What students say about it

“It is most important you do the little things every day to strengthen your ankle and leg muscles. They are your prime ways to successfully manage a fall. If you don’t, you’re at the mercy of the fall, of gravity, and of momentum. If all it takes is 30 minutes a day to keep me strong – I’ll do it!”  Becky King — Vernon, Texas

“Anyone can benefit from this class. Anyone. Young or old – take the class. You will learn from it.” Betty Robertson, Bedford Heights, Ohio

Details:

• Classes are held once a week for 2 hours

To empower seniors to live their lives to the fullest and reduce their risk of falls, schedule your educational program NOW.

Call 610-254-9440 now or email: PamR@LibertyCares.com.