BY JACCI GRUNINGER, MS
Executive Director
LARSO
If you enjoy data, the Department of Health dashboard for 2019, showed that fall related deaths for seniors 65 and older were higher for New Mexico when compared to the rest of the nation. The information also indicated that deaths related to falls for the same age population in Los Alamos County was 14-18% (www.nmhealth.gov).
Falls are not an automatic, uncontrollable event because we age. There are small, easy changes that we can learn before balance becomes an issue, that can help. If you have a fear of falling, are experiencing balance issues and would like to improve them, your local Senior Activity Center has a FREE class to help address this topic.
A Matter of Balance (MOB) is an evidence-based program designed to reduce the fear of falling and improve activity levels among older adults. There are no high energy workouts required, but a re-training of the brain by introducing small, easy changes implemented into daily life. The program is taught during eight sessions, twice a week in two-hour classes. It has been best described as cognitive re-thinking about falls, with a little bit of exercise.
The work comes from MaineHealth’s Partnership for Healthy Aging and is approved by the New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department and the New Mexico Area Agency on Aging. The class is meant for seniors 60 and older and membership with the Senior Activity Centers is required and also free.
Master Trainers, Kate Cleveland, small business owner of Kiss Your Food and Bernadette Lauritzen, of local non-profit Champions of Youth Ambitions have taught the classes since June of 2023.
“Teaching this class is incredibly rewarding and enlightening,” said Kate Cleveland. “It’s so empowering for seniors to be able to continue doing the things they love. Learning strategies and thinking about how they can carry on doing things in a safe way as they age really enriches their lives.”
The topics covered include addressing the fears of falling, home and community safety, positive and negative thinking, and making simple changes. The sessions offer a wealth of resources and simple exercises to build skills. One highlight of the class is a special guest presentation from a local professional provider. Often, a local Physical Therapist is asked to attend for a presentation and lesson for what to do if a fall happens.
The next session will be taught on Mondays and Wednesdays, starting April 1st. The classes will be held at the White Rock Senior Center and students must be prepared to attend all eight sessions. You must be a member of the local Senior Activity Centers; membership is free for those 60 and up. To learn more, call the Betty Ehart Senior Activity Center 505-662-8920.