Death, Taxes and Exercise.

There are some things in life that we just have to accept.  Death and taxes are two of them and the third is exercise.  Death is inevitable, we have to pay taxes and if you want to do the things you enjoy, you have to do some type of exercise. 

Some people enjoy exercise and others can't stand it.  Some people want to stay in their homes and out of assisted living facilities for as long as possible and others don't care what happens to them.  There's a connection between exercise and staying in your home.   If you want you want to stay at home, you must do some type of physical activity.  Regularly.

I'm not talking about running marathons, aerobic dancing like Jane Fonda or prancing around with Richard Simmons but I am talking about basic stretching, strengthening and balance exercises.   Doing these different kinds of activity can reduce your risk of a fall and help you stay in your home.

I have a client and she hates to exercise.  If it were her choice, she would sit in her Lazy-Boy all day and not do anything other than eat, sleep and watch TV.  She ended up in the hospital after a fall and had to go to rehab hospital for a few days.  

All she wanted was to go home but couldn't be released until she was strong enough.  Once she got home, she has to continue doing the exercises if she wants to stay there. 
Enter the Fall Prevention Lady! 
While I visit her twice a week, it's her choice whether or not to do the exercises I assign her. 

She and I had a heart to heart last week after a frustrating session.  I explained that she had to do some basic exercises (a list I provide in my new book, The Complete Guide to Fall Prevention) if she wanted to stay out of assisted living.

 It's that simple; if you love your home and want to stay there, you have to put forth some effort to exercise on a regular basis.   Accept exercise now so you don't have to face death sooner.

Senior Injury Prevention Conference

I'm headed to Oakland on Thursday to attend the 12th Annual Senior Injury Prevention Conference.  Co-sponsored by Alameda county, the California Department of Public Health, Kaiser, Vital Link Emergency Response and Sutter Hospital, this event is sure to be one of the best learning opportunities in the area.

Since the focus is injury prevention, fall risk reduction is the underlying theme.  Topics to be covered by industry experts include medication safety update, building safe and healthy communities (housing, transportation, education and continuity of care) and falls and hearing loss.  I love to learn and this is the best way to stay current on topics related to seniors and injury prevention.

Falls are quickly becoming a PUBLIC HEALTH epidemic as our population ages.  Appropriately, Barb Alberson, Chief of the Injury Control section of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is the moderator.  The CDPH is taking an active role in presenting evidence-based fall prevention programs to adults who need it the most.  I am excited about working with them in the future.

I went to this conference last year in Sacramento and it was outstanding. Alameda county is on the cutting edge of senior injury prevention and have some innovative fall prevention programs.   I love conferences!

Always learning,
The Fall Prevention Lady

Need to improve your stability? Go to home base!

I want you to think about something.   Where is all your weight when you are "just standing there?  
Do you....

• Shift all your weight to one leg
• Have most of your weight on your heels or on your toes? 
• Are you equally balanced on both feet? 

There's a place I call homebase and this is the safest place to be whether you are sitting or standing.  (Yes, your homebase goes with you when you stand up!).  

Everyone has a homebase and becoming familiar with it can prevent you from falling.  I have written about this "HOMEBASE" in my new book, The Complete Guide to Fall Prevention. 

As a balance and mobility instructor, I have worked with hundreds of older adults and I believe that it is essential that you know where your homebase is and go there everytime you stand up or sit down if you want to improve your stability.

I caught myself when I was washing the dishes this weekend and I couldn't it believe where my homebase was... I was standing off balance.  And I'm the Fall Prevention Lady!

I heard it takes 66 days to form a new habit (it has gone up from the original 3 weeks that it has been for years.  Well, I guess we're a slow learners!  You want to start going to homebase today so you can prevent a fall in the future.  

Yes I want to go to homebase!  Order HERE!

Blind in one eye & can't see out of the other?

I started an intermediate level balance and mobility training session last week and was talking to one of the participants yesterday.  She told me that she absolutely loved my classes and that everyone over 60 years old needed to take my class at least once a year to improve their balance and prevent falls. 

This woman is blind in one eye and used to bump into objects all the time.  Her vision impairment made her feel constantly out of balance (she was not born with this condition) and after several bad falls, she was afraid of falling.  She said that the visual training we do in class has helped her beyond words can explain and that she is walking so much better now. Her quality of life has improved dramatically!  

I have to say that I agree; everyone over the age of 60 should take my class at least once!  However, since I live here in California and cannot be everywhere so I wrote a book that will help get you started in the exact same fall prevention exercise program at home.  In my book, The Complete Guide to Fall Prevention, you will learn the same visual training techniques that have helped this woman who is blind in one eye walk with a steady gait and without a fear of falling.

Unfortunately, the only thing missing will be me and my smiling face!  That's ok, I'm updating my website, The Fall Prevention Lady, so you will be able to see me, hear me and ask me questions!  The book will be ready by June.   Get ready to change your life!

The Fall Prevention Lady,
Kelly Ward, M.S., Therapeutic Aging
FallProof™ Balance and Mobility Specialist
Author, The Complete Guide to Fall Prevention

Mobility 101: "We're walking so much better....."

Balance and mobility:  keeping yourself upright and walking. 
Improved balance and mobility:  enjoying your life without constant fear of falling.

I love teaching (FallProof™) balance and mobility classes in the community.  In my last 6-week training session at Parkside Community Church, I worked with a couple who are both 83 years old and who have been married over 60 years.  They love each other, their family, and their lives.  They took my class because he has a history of falls.  A friend strongly recommended my class to them.

After 12 sessions, his posture improved dramatically and they both improved in all three fitness tests related to fall risk.  Tonight I got a call from them and they wanted to thank me again for my class.  This type of telephone call just makes my day.  Mr. H went on to tell me that my class had changed their lives and that they both were walking so much better.

He was proud to report that they were still doing the exercises that I recommend and that they couldn't wait until the next training session when they'll be in town.  This couple gets it!  They took the tools I gave them and used them to improve their balance. 

It's like I told them on the first day of class, '...the best years of your life are still ahead of you.  Learn how to improve your balance and mobility today to prevent falls and remain independent tomorrow.'

He said he had tons of friends and they all need to take my class!  He also wanted to know if it was alright if he gave them my information. Alright?  Spread the word, my friend. 

My new book, "The Complete Guide to Fall Prevention" will cover everything you need to know to improve your balance and mobility today in order to remain independent tomorrow.....

The Fall Prevention Lady,
Kelly Ward