One of the hardest things to deal with in terms of aging is being limited in ability to get out of the house and participate in activities out of fear of falling. Two organizations are hosting a series of classes, with plans for future classes, to help seniors become aware of their surroundings and equip them to continue living as normal lives as possible.

The Mid-East Commission Area Agency on Aging partnered with the Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center to host Matter of Balance classes, an evidence-based class on fall prevention for older adults. The class is held based on need in the community, a class that is held once or twice a year, according to Lindsey Blanton, aging services coordinator for the Area Agency on Aging.

Blanton said the classes are held to prevent falls, which cause hospitalization and seniors having to be institutionalized. In the group-setting classes with heavy participation from attendees, strategies to reduce the fear of falling and promotion flexibility, strength and balance are emphasized.

“(The class) makes life better (for participants) by reducing the fear of falling,” Blanton said. “Sometimes the fear of falling prevents (seniors) from going outside and doing normal activities, which can lead to isolation and depression. We’re trying to get them aware of fall risks so when they go out, they don’t fall.”

Blanton said, for example, a technique used in the class is a home safety check, which involves seniors taking home worksheets that helps them address safety concerns that may be present in their homes such as throw rugs that can present a fall hazard, as well as ensuring rooms are well lit.

The eight-week class also includes instruction on exercising that participants can then do at home to increase their strength, flexibility and balance, according to Blanton.

Colleen Puceta, recreation program specialist at the senior center, said the classes are beneficial in keeping seniors healthy, alert and engaged in normal lives. With balance and fall risk being a prevalent issue with the elderly, the class is one of the best evidence-based healthy promotion classes she has seen, she said.

“I have seen, just from the beginning to the end of the class, over eight weeks, just improvement from what the participants tell me,” Puceta said. “They realize anything from maybe their shoes to environmental hazards such as rugs, wires and different things. They’ve realized and acknowledged that they need to be more alert, and we also do exercises, which makes them stronger and more aware of their surroundings. I think that’s half the battle. They’re really beneficial.”

Blanton said the primary mission of the agency is to provide home- and community-based services to keep seniors out of the hospital, nursing homes and other institutions.

“We’re trying to teach prevention, more than anything,” Blanton said. “We’re trying to keep them in their homes as long as possible and as long as they want.”

According to Blanton, the class being held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church has one session remaining, but another series will be held this fall, which will be open for enrollment.

For more information about classes offered through the Mid-East Commission Area Agency on Aging, contact Lindsay Blanton at 252-974-1854. For more information about the Grace Martin Harwell Senior Center and the programming it has available, call 252-975-9368.