I'm headed to Madison, Wisconsin today for a 3-day training in the fall prevention program, Stepping On. The California Department of Public Health is sponsoring me to become educated in this national award winning program that combines education, exercise and assessment as a multifactorial approach to reducing the number of falls among older adults who live in the community.
Just as there are numerous causes for falls, a person must do more than one thing to reduce the risk of falling. Exercise is by the most effective way but an education about what causes falls is also necessary. In my book, The Complete Guide to Fall Prevention, I do just that; I educate about fall risks and then demonstrate the different types of exercise a person must do to remain independent.
I am looking forward to becoming certified to instruct the Stepping On program and hope this leads to future employment with the California Department of Public Health and Area 4 Agency on Aging...or maybe a position in Wisconsin! Good things are going to happen and I am willing to go wherever I am needed.
Praise God for this opportunity!
The Fall Prevention Lady
Showing posts with label Area 4 Agency on Aging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Area 4 Agency on Aging. Show all posts
Monday, July 30, 2012
Monday, July 2, 2012
Northern California Fall Prevention Coalition planning meeting
It's that time again! Time to begin preparing for the third week in September. What is the third week in September? It's officially Fall Prevention Week! As a member of the Northern California Fall Prevention Coalition, I am excited about our third annual community event to raise awareness of falls and what people can do to prevent falls.
The Area 4 Agency on Aging is the organizing body and partners with Kaiser of South Sacramento, Eskaton, City of Sacramento, County of Sacramento, Adult and Aging Commission, Senior RSVP program, Resources for Independent Living, and yours truly, The Fall Prevention Lady™! This year, a representative from Phillips lifeline has joined the local forces of fall prevention.
At our first meeting, we talked about possible themes and came up with some great ideas. Without divulging our deepest secrets, I can tell you that a person has to take responsibility for his/her well-being in order to prevent falls. Take action. The active way to prevent falls begins with education.
In my book, The Complete Guide to Fall Prevention™, I educate you about fall risk factors you can control and those you can't. Once you are aware of the difference, it's up to you to change what you can to prevent falls. Order my book to take action now!
I will be offering balance and mobility screenings again this year but my team of volunteers will be better equipped to talk to senior participants about the relevance of the testing results and fall risk. A Kaiser Physical Therapist will be available for more in-depth consultations.
This is going to be a great event. I am looking forward to working with professional to educate the public about falls and how to reduce the risk of a slip, trip of fall.
Educate. Demonstrate. Facilitate.
The Fall Prevention Lady
The Area 4 Agency on Aging is the organizing body and partners with Kaiser of South Sacramento, Eskaton, City of Sacramento, County of Sacramento, Adult and Aging Commission, Senior RSVP program, Resources for Independent Living, and yours truly, The Fall Prevention Lady™! This year, a representative from Phillips lifeline has joined the local forces of fall prevention.
At our first meeting, we talked about possible themes and came up with some great ideas. Without divulging our deepest secrets, I can tell you that a person has to take responsibility for his/her well-being in order to prevent falls. Take action. The active way to prevent falls begins with education.
In my book, The Complete Guide to Fall Prevention™, I educate you about fall risk factors you can control and those you can't. Once you are aware of the difference, it's up to you to change what you can to prevent falls. Order my book to take action now!
I will be offering balance and mobility screenings again this year but my team of volunteers will be better equipped to talk to senior participants about the relevance of the testing results and fall risk. A Kaiser Physical Therapist will be available for more in-depth consultations.
This is going to be a great event. I am looking forward to working with professional to educate the public about falls and how to reduce the risk of a slip, trip of fall.
Educate. Demonstrate. Facilitate.
The Fall Prevention Lady
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Take 5 to Exercise Resistance Band Staff Training
During my gerontology internship with the Area 4 Agency on Aging (A4AA), I developed a series of seated fall prevention exercise routines called Take 5 to Exercise. I researched and designed routines of stretching and strengthening movements that are easy to do and when followed regularly, can reduce the risk of an accidental fall. The A4AA still uses the stretching cards that I designed in 2006.
Older adults need lean muscle mass in order to remain independent. Lean muscle mass is developed and maintained by participating in consistent strength training exercises. As part of my internship, I researched and developed easy-to-do strength training routines that can be done anywhere by using a resistance band. Although I developed pictorial cards to demonstrate these seated strengthening movements, the A4AA has only been using the stretching cards. Until now!
In April, I will be doing a staff training for the A4AA to explain and demonstrate basic seated strengthening movements using a resistance band that will reduce the risk of an accidental fall and help keep older adults independent in their homes. I am looking forward to training the staff how to train older adults in basic strengthening movements. Sarcopenia is the natural loss of muscle mass associated with the aging process. The rate of muscle loss is exasperated by inactivity. In other words, USE IT OR LOSE IT. The less you do, the quicker you will lose strength.
Get moving. Get active. Stay strong. I produced a DVD series, Take 5 to Exercise, that demonstrates seated exercise routines designed to increase strength and flexibility and improve posture. All from the comfort of your home!
Just do it!
Older adults need lean muscle mass in order to remain independent. Lean muscle mass is developed and maintained by participating in consistent strength training exercises. As part of my internship, I researched and developed easy-to-do strength training routines that can be done anywhere by using a resistance band. Although I developed pictorial cards to demonstrate these seated strengthening movements, the A4AA has only been using the stretching cards. Until now!
In April, I will be doing a staff training for the A4AA to explain and demonstrate basic seated strengthening movements using a resistance band that will reduce the risk of an accidental fall and help keep older adults independent in their homes. I am looking forward to training the staff how to train older adults in basic strengthening movements. Sarcopenia is the natural loss of muscle mass associated with the aging process. The rate of muscle loss is exasperated by inactivity. In other words, USE IT OR LOSE IT. The less you do, the quicker you will lose strength.
Get moving. Get active. Stay strong. I produced a DVD series, Take 5 to Exercise, that demonstrates seated exercise routines designed to increase strength and flexibility and improve posture. All from the comfort of your home!
Just do it!
Monday, September 27, 2010
Fall prevention exercise assessments
To Fall or Not to Fall, that was the question!
On Saturday, Sept 25, Kaiser Permanente and Area 4 Agency on Aging sponsored this fall prevention community event for the purpose of increasing awareness of the severity of falls among the aging population and more importantly, how to reduce the risk of these tragic accidents.
Over 130 older adults in the Sacramento region came to this free event. There were local fall prevention experts on hand to present workshops and conduct different types of assessments. Participants were offered free balance and fitness assessments, medications review, bone density testing, and an emotional health review.
I assessed 55 older adults using the short-form of the Fullerton Advanced Balance scale. It was interesting that 25 out of the 55 participants were identified "at risk" of falls according to their score because that percentage is greater than the 1 in 3 older adults who fall estimates of the CDC. However as the number of baby boomers grows, the number of older adults who will fall grows proportionately. It's time to get PRO-ACTIVE in the prevention of falls.
As a certified FallProof™ instructor, I love the opportunity to educate individuals about exercise and fall risk reduction. A lot of people do not associate EXERCISE and INDEPENDENCE but as a person ages, it is crucial that he/she engage in a consistent exercise program that is designed to reduce the risk of fall.
I will be offering a fall prevention exercise class in the South Sacramento community very very soon. Stay posted as to when and where.
The Fall Prevention Lady
On Saturday, Sept 25, Kaiser Permanente and Area 4 Agency on Aging sponsored this fall prevention community event for the purpose of increasing awareness of the severity of falls among the aging population and more importantly, how to reduce the risk of these tragic accidents.
Over 130 older adults in the Sacramento region came to this free event. There were local fall prevention experts on hand to present workshops and conduct different types of assessments. Participants were offered free balance and fitness assessments, medications review, bone density testing, and an emotional health review.
I assessed 55 older adults using the short-form of the Fullerton Advanced Balance scale. It was interesting that 25 out of the 55 participants were identified "at risk" of falls according to their score because that percentage is greater than the 1 in 3 older adults who fall estimates of the CDC. However as the number of baby boomers grows, the number of older adults who will fall grows proportionately. It's time to get PRO-ACTIVE in the prevention of falls.
As a certified FallProof™ instructor, I love the opportunity to educate individuals about exercise and fall risk reduction. A lot of people do not associate EXERCISE and INDEPENDENCE but as a person ages, it is crucial that he/she engage in a consistent exercise program that is designed to reduce the risk of fall.
I will be offering a fall prevention exercise class in the South Sacramento community very very soon. Stay posted as to when and where.
The Fall Prevention Lady
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Fall Prevention Week
The third week of September is officially "Fall Prevention Week" and as the Fall Prevention Lady, I am excited to see communities become pro-active in the prevention of falls among an aging population, at least for one week!
In Northern California, the Area 4 Agency on Aging and Kaiser Permanente are hosting a free fall prevention community event, "To Fall or Not to Fall". Saturday, September 25th, from 9am-2pm, there will be workshops, assessments and vendors that specialize in reducing the risk of a fall. Because there are multiple causes for falls, there are multiple ways to reduce one's risk of such a tragedy.
I am excited! If you live in the Sacramento region, come out for this FREE community event. Register now....(916) 486-1876.
Get out, get assessed, get informed, be proactive in the management of your well-being.
The Fall Prevention Lady
In Northern California, the Area 4 Agency on Aging and Kaiser Permanente are hosting a free fall prevention community event, "To Fall or Not to Fall". Saturday, September 25th, from 9am-2pm, there will be workshops, assessments and vendors that specialize in reducing the risk of a fall. Because there are multiple causes for falls, there are multiple ways to reduce one's risk of such a tragedy.
I am excited! If you live in the Sacramento region, come out for this FREE community event. Register now....(916) 486-1876.
Get out, get assessed, get informed, be proactive in the management of your well-being.
The Fall Prevention Lady
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Northern California Falls Prevention Coalition
I am a member of the Northern California Falls Prevention Coalition and we are planning a huge community event during Fall Prevention Week. Fall Prevention week is officially the third week of September and this year that is Sept. 19-25. Some of the biggest senior service agencies and fall prevention experts are part of this coalition so I am honored to be part of this group.
Kaiser Permanente and the Area 4 Agency on Aging are sponsoring this free event on Saturday, September 25 at the Dan B. Moore building on the South Sacramento Kaiser campus. The event is from 9am-2pm and a free lunch will be served to the first 150 participants who register. Vendors will be on site to talk about services and products that help reduce the risk of falls and there will be assessments throughout the day.
The following are the workshops that will be held in the morning:
1. Me, Kelly Ward, aka The Fall Prevention Lady, will lead the morning group stretch and fall prevention exercise component.
2. David Grantham of Rebuilding Together will talk about home modifications to allow older adults to remain safe in their homes
3. Registered dietician Lila Shelton will talk about the importance of healthy foods to keep the body strong and thereby reduce the risk of falling
4. Either Jane Stanely of A4AA or a pharmacist will talk about the connection between medication management and fall prevention.
It's going to be a great FALL PREVENTION event that will benefit anyone who is concerned about falling. Make sure to register early by calling the Area 4 Agency on Aging, (916) 486-1876.
Blessings,
Kelly Ward
The Fall Prevention Lady
Kaiser Permanente and the Area 4 Agency on Aging are sponsoring this free event on Saturday, September 25 at the Dan B. Moore building on the South Sacramento Kaiser campus. The event is from 9am-2pm and a free lunch will be served to the first 150 participants who register. Vendors will be on site to talk about services and products that help reduce the risk of falls and there will be assessments throughout the day.
The following are the workshops that will be held in the morning:
1. Me, Kelly Ward, aka The Fall Prevention Lady, will lead the morning group stretch and fall prevention exercise component.
2. David Grantham of Rebuilding Together will talk about home modifications to allow older adults to remain safe in their homes
3. Registered dietician Lila Shelton will talk about the importance of healthy foods to keep the body strong and thereby reduce the risk of falling
4. Either Jane Stanely of A4AA or a pharmacist will talk about the connection between medication management and fall prevention.
It's going to be a great FALL PREVENTION event that will benefit anyone who is concerned about falling. Make sure to register early by calling the Area 4 Agency on Aging, (916) 486-1876.
Blessings,
Kelly Ward
The Fall Prevention Lady
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