FALL PREVENTION PROGRAM FOR DELAWARE SENIORS NOW AVAILABLE IN ALL COUNTIES

NEW CASTLE (Aug. 5, 2013) - To meet the health needs of Delaware's fast-growing senior population, the Department of Health and Social Services is expanding free fall-prevention classes statewide called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns about Falls.

The program, which is designed to reduce fear and increase activity levels among older adults, has been offered through the RSVP programs in New Castle and Sussex counties with more than 330 people taking the classes. Through the work of DHSS' State Office of Volunteerism and a grant provided through the Delaware Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC), the program also will be offered in Kent County.

"By 2030, Delaware will have the ninth-highest proportion of persons age 65 or older among all states," DHSS Secretary Rita Landgraf said. "Classes like Matter of Balance will help to provide the supports and services that our growing number of older Delawareans will need to age safely and with dignity in their homes."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in every three adults age 65 and older falls at least once a year. Many of these falls are largely preventable. Because of this anxiety of falling, many older adults often limit their activities, which can result in physical weakness, making the risk of falling even greater.

"By offering this program to seniors throughout the state, it is our hope we will help them maintain their independence by developing strategies to address some of the changes that come with age," said Deborah Vandiver, RSVP New Castle and Sussex manager.

A Matter of Balance classes are led by master trainers and are limited to 12 seniors per class to give attendees a personalized experience. The classes utilize a variety of activities to address physical, social and cognitive factors affecting the fear of falling and to teach fall prevention strategies. The activities include group discussion, problem-solving, skill-building, assertiveness training, videotapes, sharing practical solutions and exercise training. During the class, participants learn to:

• View falls and the fear of falling as controllable, which involves changing behavior with a focus on building falls self-efficacy, i.e., the belief that one can engage in an activity without falling.
• Set realistic goals for increasing activity by instilling adaptive beliefs such as greater perceived control, greater confidence in one's abilities and more realistic assessment of failures.
• Change the environment to reduce fall risk factors by using a home safety evaluation and action planner to reduce fall risk hazards in the home and community.
• Promote exercise to increase strength and balance. After completing A Matter of Balance, participants have demonstrated noticeable improvements in their levels of fall management, fall control, exercise, and social limitations with regard to concerns about falling.

For more information or to register for the free classes, contact the coordinator in your area: New Castle County: Susan Fox, 302-255-9695 Kent County: Daphne Strickland, 302-734-1200 Sussex County: April Willey, 302-856-5815

• Thursdays July 25- Sept. 12Matter of Balance ClassesLittle Sisters of the Poor
  185 Salem Church Road
  Newark 1:30-3:30 pm
  
• Mondays Aug. 12- Oct. 7Matter Of Balance ClassesMillville Town Hall 36404 Club House Road
  Millville9:30-11:30 am
  
• Mondays Sept. 9- Oct. 28Matter of Balance ClassesHockessin Activity Center
  7259 Lancaster Pike
  Hockessin9:30-11:30 am
• Tuesdays Sept. 10-Oct. 29Matter of Balance ClassesAmerican Legion Post #28
  31768 Legion Road Millsboro10 am-noon
  
• Tuesdays Sept. 10-Oct. 29Matter of Balance ClassesClaymore Senior Center 504 S Clayton St.
  Wilmington10 am-noon
• Mondays Sept. 23-Nov. 25Matter of Balance ClassesModern Maturity Center 1121 Forrest Ave.
  Dover10 am-noon
  
• Tuesdays Sept. 24-Nov. 12Matter of Balance ClassesJewish Community Center 101 Garden of Eden Road
  Wilmington9:30-11:30 am
• Thursdays Oct. 3- Dec. 21Matter of Balance ClassesSt. Stephen's Church 1301 N. Broom St.
  Wilmington 10 am-noon

Delaware Health and Social Services is committed to improving the quality of the lives of Delaware's citizens by promoting health and well-being, fostering self-sufficiency, and protecting vulnerable populations.