Before the Fall
Donna Mayer
Did you know that falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations and injury deaths in Canada?
According to national Canadian statistics for 2022, falls caused 88.6 % of injury-related hospitalizations for seniors aged 65 or older. After a fall, many seniors are no longer able to have the lifestyle they want. They may lose their independence or be fearful of falling again. Having strong legs and good balance mean you are less
likely to fall. Fortunately, multiple strategies can help control and prevent falls. With that in mind, the St. Albert and Area Retired Teachers Association( STARTA) sponsored our first falls prevention class in the spring of 2024.“ Not Falling for You: Balance with Buddies” is a structured intervention program that emphasizes practical strategies.
Developed by the Injury Prevention Centre at the University of Alberta, in partnership with seniors’ groups, health-care organizations, and practitioners across Alberta, this campaign is based on the latest research and aimed at independent seniors able to exercise without assistance and learn strength and balance movements to reduce the risk of falling.
In 2022, falls caused 88.6 % of injury-related hospitalizations for seniors aged 65 or older.
We were very fortunate to have a trained peer leader in our midst. Dawn Curran, our volunteer peer leader, had previously received training through Finding Balance Alberta. While strength and balance training were the focus, our twelveweek program provided a multi-faceted approach.
Each seventy-five-minute session began with a short discussion on topics that can affect balance. Included themes were home safety, vision, medication, alcohol, footwear and foot care, getting up from a fall, and winter safety. For example, do you know how to increase stability and balance on ice by walking like a penguin? Following discussion, Dawn led us through a very well-planned routine of warmups, leg and core strength exercises, and balance exercises, ending with cool down activities. Each week the exercises became just a little bit more demanding.
Ten keen members( and some spouses) formed our inaugural group. Prior to the first session, individual participants underwent a short falls-risk
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