Falls are the most preventable cause of needing nursing home placement.

What: Members of the press are invited to attend a Matter of Balance workshop taught by Fairfield University School of Nursing students that will teach older adults fall prevention methods. It is part of a series of workshops taught at senior centers throughout Fairfield County designed to reduce the fear of falling, increase activity levels among older adults, and teach exercises to improve balance and muscle strength. Lessons include 30 simple exercises one can do at home, sitting on a chair or standing behind it. Also on the agenda is a review of ways you can make your home safer to ward against falls, complete with a safety checklist.

When: This Thursday, March 20, 1 p.m. (If interested in attending, please call (203) 254-4000, ext. 2726.)

Where: Wilton Senior Center, located at 180 School Road in Wilton, Connecticut, in the Comstock Community Center.

Why: Did you know that three out of ten people over 70 suffer falls each year? Or that falls are more common than strokes and can be just as serious in their consequences? According to the Connecticut Collaboration for Fall Prevention, falls are the most preventable cause of needing nursing home placement. Not only can fall injuries lead to problems with dressing, bathing and walking, they can cause fractures and hospitalization.

To address these troubling and sometimes life-changing concerns, Fairfield University's School of Nursing students and faculty are teaching a series of free community workshops at senior centers throughout Fairfield County to help prevent falls, with support from a $20,000 grant from the Southwestern Connecticut Agency on Aging. The workshops are led by Geraldine M. Chalykoff, Ph.D., RN, visiting assistant professor at Fairfield's School of Nursing, and nursing students enrolled in the Public Health Nursing course, a service-learning course in which academic study is linked with community service.

*Agencies interested in hosting a future Matter of Balance program are asked to contact Dr. Chalykoff at (203) 254-4000 ext. 3225 or e-mail gchalykoff@fairfield.edu .

Additional Background: Called 'A Matter of Balance,' the eight-week series of two-hour workshops are currently held at eight different sites throughout Fairfield County, including the Fairfield Senior Center, Westport Senior Center, Wilton Senior Center and locations in Bridgeport and Stratford, among others. The Maine Healthy Partnership developed the "A Matter of Balance" workshops.

Posted On: 03-21-2014 03:03 PM

Volume: 46 Number: 230