Winter has been showing its true colors recently with all the snow and icy conditions, and that means getting around can be challenging.
While we all have concerns about slipping and falling in this weather, older adults often have increased worries regarding their fall risk whether on ice, simply being out in the community, or in their own home.
A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls is an eight-week class specifically designed to address those worries.
I will be joining Kate Shumaker, Family and Consumer Sciences educator for Ohio State University Extension in Holmes County, to present A Matter of Balance on Fridays, Feb. 7 - March 28, from 10 a.m. to noon at the Franklin Township House, 132 West Moreland Road, Wooster. We are offering the class as part of the Falls Prevention Program of Holmes and Wayne, under the guidance of the Holmes County General Health District.
A Matter of Balance is offered at no cost to participants. Classes are made of eight to 12 participants.
Class will offer help in the battle against fear of falling
If you’ve turned down a chance to go out with family or friends or cut down a favorite activity because you might fall, this program is for you.
Fear of falling can be just as dangerous as falling itself. People who develop this fear often limit their activities, which can result in severe physical weakness, making the risk of falling even greater. Many older adults also experience increased isolation and depression when they limit their interactions with family and friends. A Matter of Balance can help people improve their quality of life and remain independent.
The award-winning program emphasizes practical strategies to manage falls. Participants learn to view falls as controllable, set goals for increasing activity, make changes to reduce fall risks at home and practice exercises to increase strength and balance.
The curriculum includes group discussions, mutual problem solving, and a few homework assignments.
For more information or to register, contact me at OSU Extension, Wayne County, at 330-264-8722 or sidle.31@osu.edu or Kate at OSU Extension, Holmes County, at 330-674–3015 or shumaker.68@osu.edu
Tips for staying safely on your feet
Meanwhile, here are some tips for staying safe when walking on snow or ice:
- Plan ahead. Give yourself sufficient time and plan your route.
- Wear shoes or boots that provide traction on snow and ice. Avoid smooth plastic and leather soles. Footwear should have visible treads and a flat bottom. Consider using a product such as Yaktrax that has an abrasive sole or cleats that provide special traction for walking on snow and ice. Remember to remove Yaktrax when entering buildings.
- Walk on designated walkways as much as possible. Avoid taking shortcuts over snowbanks.
- Use special care when entering or exiting vehicles or buildings, climbing up or down stairs, and entering or leaving buildings. Move slowly, use handrails when available, and shake off excess water or snow from shoes when entering buildings.
- Anticipate ice. Be aware of thin sheets of ice that may appear as we pavement.
- Walk safely. To walk on ice, you need to shift your center of gravity over your front leg. Bend slightly forward and walk flat-footed. Keep your hands out of your pockets and take short steps or shuffle for stability.
And one final tip from experts that made me smile: Walk like a penguin. The waddle works because it’s all about balance. Our little tuxedo friends use their wings to help them steady as they shuffle about. So when the ground is covered in ice, think like a penguin.
Laurie Sidle is an Ohio State University Extension Family and Consumer Sciences and 4-H program assistant and may be reached at 330-264-8722 or sidle.31@osu.edu
CFAES provides research and related educational programs to clientele on a nondiscriminatory basis. For more information, visit cfaesdiversity.osu.edu
This article was previously published in The Daily Record.