Have you turned down a chance to go out with family or friends because you were concerned about falling? Have you cut down on a favorite activity because you might fall?
Up to 50% of Americans over the age of 65, who live independently, experience a fear of falling. The fear of falling is common among many older adults and can be so strong they limit their activities. When older adults limit their activity due to this fear, it can reduce their mobility and independence, affecting quality of life and limit the risk of future falls. It can also increase isolation and depression due the lack of interaction with family and friends.
Club Bethesda will be holding A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls session beginning this September. (FREE for Club Bethesda members!)
By attending A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls you will:
- Set realistic goals for staying active
- Learn how to stay safe at home
- Complete exercises to increase strength and balance
Learn how to identify and control your fear of falling. This class is conducted over eight sessions by trained coaches and will meet weekly or twice weekly for two hours per session. The program’s goals are to reduce fear of falling, stop the fear of falling cycle and increase activity levels and confidence among older adults.
During the class, participants learn to:
- View falls and fear of falling as controllable
- Set realistic goals for increasing activity
- Find ways to change the environment to reduce fall risk factors
- Learn simple exercises to increase strength and balance
Falling is not a natural part of aging and can be avoided by assessing your risk factors and making changes to your environment.
You should attend A Matter of Balance class if you:
- are concerned about falls
- have had a fall in the past
- restrict activities because of concerns about falling
- are interested in improving flexibility, balance and strength
For more information about the Matter of Balance class at Club Bethesda, please contact Melissa Wentzel at 320-214-5622 or [email protected].
