Forever…in motion is a health promotion initiative that helps older adults become physically active through volunteer-led physical activity groups. The Forever…in motion Older Adult strategy is to improve and maintain the health of older adults living in the community through support, education, research, partnerships and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. The strategy focuses primarily on individuals living in seniors’ congregate housing and condominiums or those that attend churches, day programs and community association programs.
November is Fall Prevention Month. This seems appropriate considering slippery conditions usually start in November. What are you doing this month to reduce your risk of a fall? De-cluttering? Making sure your sidewalks are clear for yourself and your visitors? Being physically active and working on your balance? The following will give you a better understanding of what is involved in improving our balance, and some exercises to practice at home to help you stay on your feet.
Balance and Fall Prevention
FIM-Level 1 Exercises
Reaction Time Exercises
Test Your Knowledge on Fall Prevention
BUT… if you do fall, let’s review how to get up from a fall and some precautionary measures you can have in place to make sure you are safe. You can also click on the following YouTube link for a 10 min video on “How to get up from the floor (after a fall) – MacGyver style!” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4ETgQD8QhZs.
Check out the information about low blood pressure or Orthostatic Hypotension, a condition that may increase the risk for falling and how you can manage this condition.
In the previous FIM Weekly Email they talked about the importance of getting stronger and working on your balance, your risk factors and how you can reduce your risk of having a fall. Check out the ‘Tips to Get Active’ and a ‘Fall Prevention Wordsearch’
Check out the FIM Start Up Guidelines. This straight forward guide is a useful tool when starting classes. Please note that in the start up guide it had stated that class size (including the instructor) should be restricted to 15 – be sure to keep checking with the provincial guidelines in case this number has changed.
The Community Program Screening Questionaire is provided to display at the entrance of your class and/or facility to ensure it is safe to enter and participate in or lead the exercise group, prior to the start of every class. The posters below are available to copy and post: physical distancing and proper hand washing techniques.
Please follow all the recommended guidelines to ensure everyone’s safety. Please continue to call or e-mail the following if you have more questions, concerns or just want to run something by them:
Kimberly Willison 306-844-4081 kimberly.willison@saskhealthauthority.ca
Kereen Lazurko 306-844-4082 kereen.lazurko@saskhealthauthority.ca
Kim Nicholls and Sabrina Logan 306-844-4083 kim.nicholls@saskhealthauthority.ca and sabrina.logan@saskhealthauthority.ca
Brenda Chomyn 306-655-2454 brenda.chomyn@saskhealthauthority.ca
Promoting physical activity to the older adult community is a key strategy of Forever…in motion. As our older adult population increases so does the impact on our healthcare system. One of the greatest health risks for older adults is sedentary living (World Health Organization, 1997).
