Eight Week Fall Prevention Course Offered to Senior Adults

Each year, one in four adults over the age of 65 will fall, and many of these falls will lead to serious injuries, such as broken hips. Many senior adults fear falling and often limit their activities in an effort to decrease risk. These limitations, however, may lead to physical weakness and increase their risk of falling.

In order to combat both the fear of and risk of falling, Atrium Health Navicent will offer "A Matter of Balance," an eight-week course that will begin on January 10, 2017. The course consists of eight two-hour sessions that will take place at Rehabilitation Hospital, Atrium Health Navicent (3351 Northside Drive in Macon). Classes will meet each Tuesdays, 2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m., January 10 - February 28. This free course is open to the community and limited to 15 participants.

"One-third to one-half of older adults acknowledges fear of falling, and fear of falling is associated with: decreased satisfaction with life, increased frailty, decreased mobility, decreased social activity and depression. A Matter of Balance seeks to decrease fear while improving balance and quality of life," said Kathleen McKinney, PT, A Matter of Balance course instructor.

Participants in A Matter of Balance will learn the following:

"¢ To view falls as preventable

"¢ To set goals to increase activity

"¢ To exercise to increase strength and balance

"¢ To make changes to reduce their fall risk at home

If you are concerned about falling, have fallen in the past or want to improve balance, flexibility and strength, call 478-201-6678 to register for "A Matter of Balance."

About Atrium Health Navicent

Atrium Health Navicent was incorporated on November 17, 1994, as a nonprofit corporation whose primary purpose is to coordinate the Medical Center, Navicent Health and other affiliated entities in their mission of providing a comprehensive continuum of high quality, reasonably priced healthcare services to the region. Atrium Health Navicent has 830 beds for medical, surgical, rehabilitation and hospice purposes. The health system includes The Medical Center, Navicent Health, a nationally recognized tertiary teaching hospital; Atrium Health Navicent Beverly Knight Olson Children's Hospital, the region's only dedicated pediatric hospital; Medical Center of Peach County, Atrium Health Navicent, a rural critical access hospital; Rehabilitation Hospital, Atrium Health Navicent, the region's oldest and most experienced rehabilitation provider; Pine Pointe, Atrium Health Navicent, which provides palliative and hospice care in homes and in its facility; Carlyle Place, Atrium Health Navicent, the area's first continuing care retirement community; Navicent Health Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Atrium Health Navicent; as well as diagnostic and home care services. For more information, please visit www.navicenthealth.org.