Matter of Balance

By Dottie Sines
Matter of Balance is an evidence based fall prevention program designed to dispel the fear of falling. What we fear often leads it to happen. Several seniors I have talked to over the years have commented that they do not exercise due to the fear of falling. One in particular quit her weekly activity of an afternoon matinee due to the fear of falling and embarrassing herself!    After attending a Matter of Balance session, she found several ways of preventing a potential fall, one of which was to use her walker. Pride can be one reason some experience a fall. Are you hesitant to use a cane or walker because it makes you look old and dependant? No, it makes you look self-sufficient! Since falls account for a majority of senior emergency room visits and often subsequent admission to nursing home, attending a fall prevention program should be on everyone’s priority list.
Matter of Balance consists of eight, two-hour sessions brought to you by the Aroostook Agency on Aging and local volunteers that have been trained to lead the class.
We only ask for a donation to offset the cost of travel and healthy snacks. Recently Bonnibelle Pratt, our lay leader in Southern Aroostook, completed the eight sessions at the Military Street Elderly Housing. Her special guest Dr. White of Houlton attended a class encouraging attendees to take an active role in their health and introducing some nontraditional methods of accomplishing just that.
If you have an interest in attending a Matter of Balance class or being trained to give classes please call Dottie Sines at 1-800-439-1789.