NEK Council on Aging Promotes September as National Falls Prevention Month

St. Johnsbury, VT – According to the National Council on Aging, falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults. One out of four Americans aged 65 and over falls every year.

In an effort to continually draw awareness to fall prevention and highlight that September is National Falls Prevention Awareness Month, the Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging (NEKCOA) offers several free programs for falls prevention throughout the Northeast Kingdom all year long. They include Tai Chi, line dancing, RVSVP Bone Builders, and the award-winning falls prevention program A Matter of Balance.

“The Council has a great number of free programs to increase strength and activity levels and manage balance,” states Karen Budde, the Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging’s (NEKCOA) RSVP Volunteer Coordinator. “In the month of September alone, we host over 49 classes for fall prevention throughout the Northeast Kingdom on a weekly basis in addition to the A Matter of Balance program.”

Endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, A Matter of Balance is a free eight-week program that is designed to teach participants to view falls as controllable, set goals for increasing activity, make changes to reduce fall risks at home, and exercise to increase strength and balance. The program was developed in the 1990’s at Boston University and is designed for those at least 60 years old.

In addition to retirement communities and senior centers, A Matter of Balance can be configured for a work site with older employees, fraternal clubs, social-service organizations, and church groups.

A Matter of Balance is for those who are concerned about falling, interested in improving balance, flexibility and strength, have fallen in the past, and have restricted their activities because of falling concerns. Class times are from 1 – 3 p.m and begin September 26th at the St. Johnsbury House on Main Street. The co-leaders will be Karen Budde and Jenny Patione.

“We want our neighbors to know that falling is not a normal part of the aging process,” said Meg Burmeister, Executive Director at the NEKCOA. “Through lifestyle adjustments, good medical-community partnerships, and programs like ours for falls prevention, the number of falls among Vermonters can be reduced. We are here to help alleviate our older residents’ concerns for falling and help them to remain active and independent.”

The full schedule of fall prevention classes is on the website www.NEKCouncil.org or call (800) 642-5119.

To register for A Matter of Balance, call (800) 642-5119 or send an email to: info@NEKCouncil.org and place “AMOB” in the subject line.