Classes aim to prevent falling

When you’re younger, falling down isn’t too big of a deal, but as you get older even a little fall could have big implications for your health.

To help prevent falls from harming older populations, Southeastern Idaho Public Health has been hosting a series of Fit and Fall Proof classes. The classes focus on flexibility and balance.

The movements in the class are things you’d do everyday, like putting things on a shelf or pulling weeds in your garden.

For Marlene Hendricks, she started attending as a way to be more fit.

“I was just looking for something to help get me motivated, get me moving,” Hendricks said.

As she transitioned from being a class taker to class leader, she realized the importance of knowing how to prevent yourself from falling.

“(It’s important) especially for people that don’t get out and move around a lot, it helps with their balance and stuff like that,” she said. “So they can walk more, walk better.”

According to the CDC, falls are the leading cause of injury for those 65 and older. Also, one out of three people in this age group are likely to fall at some point.

Besides helping people get fit, the classes highlight falls prevention. Michelle Butterfield, the falls prevention program coordinator at SIPH, said falls prevention is often overlooked.

“We’re always in the fixing mode, we’re never in the prevention mode,” Butterfield said. “With these programs with our health district, we really promote the prevention.”

Prevention is important to Butterfield, because “once somebody experiences a fall their chances go up because they’re a little nervous of having another fall. So they tend to not be as active and that leads them to pretty much fall again.”

Butterfield recommends “fall-proofing” your house if you have falling concerns. You can make sure floors aren’t slippery or even add handrails to rooms.

For more information about Fit and Fall Proof classes (locations, times, how to lead a class, etc.) you can contact Butterfield at (208) 239 – 5207 or email her at mbutterfield@siph.idaho.gov. Classes are also held at the Bannock County UI Extension Office.

There will be a falls prevention conference called the Humpty Dumpty event at ICCU’s administrative office at 4400 Central Way in Chubbuck. The event is free to attend.

You can also go to the National Council on Aging for more information about falls prevention.