Hottest trend in fall prevention exercise classes hits Sacramento

As the Fall Prevention Lady, I teach balance and mobility training classes in the Sacramento region. These fall prevention exercise classes meet twice a week for 4-weeks and enrollment is closed after the second class. These beginner level classes are perfect for older adults who have not exercised in years, who have been released from physical therapy but are not ready for community-based 'senior fitness' classes, anyone who has fallen or is concerned about falling.

I have been teaching summer sessions at Parkside Community Church, Clarksburg Community Church, Fremont Presbyterian Church and St. John's Retirement Village. I started at Parkside with a beginner level and now offer intermediate and advanced levels for those who have completed the first level of balance training. These training sessions are progressively challenging and build on skills taught in the first few classes which is why a person cannot join after the first week.

I have just added two new class locations to my September schedule. I will be teaching at the Senior Connection in Fair Oaks and the Carmichael Presbyterian Church. I also added two classes to the October schedule; I will be teaching classes at the Asian Community Center and the Swanston Community Center. And guess what? I have plenty of time in my schedule for more classes!

If you live in the Sacramento region and are interested in hosting or attending a FallProof™ balance and mobility training session, contact me, the Fall Prevention Lady.

Do it for your independence. Do it for your loved ones. Do it for you.

Email: info@thefallpreventionlady.com

Telephone: 916-821-5715.

Please note: There is a reasonable cost to attend these classes.

Advanced FallProof™ balance and mobility class in Sacramento | Senior Exercise Videos

Advanced FallProof™ balance and mobility class in Sacramento | Senior Exercise Videos

Fall Prevention exercise incorporates purposeful play

As a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist (CTRS), I have studied and appreciate the value of recreation and leisure activities for the physical, emotional, spiritual and social benefits. However the "games" we played as children are not only fun but also therapeutic. When engaged in regularly, purposeful play has the potential to improve the quality of life for older adults by reducing the risk of falls.

I currently offer progressively challenging FallProof™ balance and mobility training to older adults living in the Sacramento region. As a certified instructor, I follow Dr. Rose's professionally-designed program plan to safely challenge participants (she does NOT encourage creativity for a reason...she knows what works!). I constantly remind people that this is not a senior fitness class but these are intimate group training classes.

Sound serious? It is! Falls are a severe problem among older adults and preventing falls is a serious matter. I take what I do seriously but FallProof™ balance and mobility training is not all work; these balance and mobility classes are fun, too! Each class incorporates a "culminating activity" that challenges the skills taught in daily lesson.

Purposeful Play. I am continually learning the value of the games I played as a kid as I have my older adult participants "play" in class. The only difference is now I'm teaching how to remain balanced. Purposeful play....reducing the risk of falls and having fun!

Kelly Ward's Fall Prevention workshop @ Resources for Independent Living...

As the Fall Prevention Lady, I love educating people about increasing fall risk factors and demonstrating effective fall prevention exercises. I was thrilled when fellow Northern California Fall Prevention Coalition member Tommy Yang of Resources for Independent Living (RIL) asked me to do a fall prevention presentation at his facility.

Although I designed and present a 3-hour interactive workshop for the City of Sacramento's 50+ Wellness grant program, Stand UP to Falls, I can customize the length of my presentation to meet the needs of the audience and facility. In this one-hour workshop for the RIL, I talked about fall risk factors and the components of an effective fall prevention exercise routine.

If you are interesting in a fall prevention workshop at your facility, please contact me! Fall Prevention Week is quickly approaching and I would love to educate your residents about fall risk factors, demonstrate fall prevention exercises and facilitate individualized compliance!
info@thefallpreventionlady.com

Take 5 to Exercise each day!

FallProof™ recertification weekend

Falls are the leading cause of accidental death and injury for adults over the age of 65 (CDC, 2005). With more than 10,000 baby boomers turning 65 EACH DAY, something must be done to PREVENT these falls. Fall prevention researchers have demonstrated that participating in consistent exercise program is the number one way to reduce the risk of a fall. It's that easy.....Take 5 to Exercise each day.

FallProof™ balance and mobility program is one of the leading fall prevention programs in the country. Dr. Debra Rose's progressively challenging program begins with a thorough assessment which results in individualized programming in order to help each person maximally challenge her/his balance abilities safely. FallProof™ instructors are trained not only in these assessment procedures but also training principles.

Just as candidates for FallProof™ must meet specific criteria, so must FallProof™ instructors. Once a person is accepted into the online training program, she/he must go to the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence for a 3-day practical exam. During this time, potential instructors observe, practice and perform the tasks required for certification. Once a person is certified, she/he must meet minimum criteria within a two year period in order to be recertified.

I have met the requirements of recertification but will be observing the FallProof™ certification weekend at the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence because I love this program and want to learn more so I can be the best I can be. I am so excited about networking with other certified FallProof™ instructors from across the country; learning from their successes and failures and sharing my experiences teaching this fall prevention exercise program in the community.

Lastly, I am excited about working with new instructors. I was there and I know how it feels. I am sharing a room with a well-established fall prevention trainer from Portland and I am carpooling from Fresno with a PT student from CSUFresno. But mostly, I am looking forward to talking with Dr. Rose! She developed this amazing program and she is my mentor!

Nothing but GOOD THINGS will come from this weekend.
Thank you, Lord!

Awareness of balance systems prevents future fall

I just completed the beginner level session of the community-based FallProof™ balance and mobility training program at Clarksburg Community Church. At the beginning of the third week, participants in this progressively challenging fall prevention exercise class starting to talk about the noticeable changes they were feeling. People proudly shared their July 4th stories, stating how they were able to do things they couldn't do last year or how they noticed a potentially dangerous situation and avoided it or approached it cautiously to prevent a fall. Awareness of fall risk factors coupled with an awareness of FallProof™ training techniques result in safer behaviors which results in reduced risk of a fall.

As their instructor, I immediately notice differences in individual movement patterns and exercise form. I see postures improve, endurance levels increase and balance confidence escalate as people attempt balance challenges that were previously avoided or attempted hesitantly. However the results of this balance training program are not mere observations. Using standardized testing procedures, I collect data (before and after participating in the class) to measure fitness parameters directly related to fall risk.

After the 4-week FallProof™ balance and mobility intervention at Clarksburg Community Church, the 9 participants demonstrated unanimous improvement in dynamic balance and agility, lower body flexibility and/or lower body strength! Everyone improved in at least one category while most improved in all three tests. The greatest improvements were seen in participants who struggled the most during the assessment testing or were more physically deconditioned. In fact, one lady not only improved the number of times she was able to get out of the chair but also DID NOT HAVE TO USE HER HANDS to get out of the chair during evaluation testing! Woo-hoo!

Due to summer heat and crazy schedules, I will not be teaching in July or August at Clarksburg but will resume teaching an intermediate and beginner level in September. During the last session I received so much positive feedback about the class, especially how an increased awareness of fall risk factors and the body systems involved in balance have helped reduce and/or prevent a fall situation. Get educated, get active and Take 5 to Exercise every day!

Praise the Lord!