Program eases fall risks, builds senior independence

NEW BEDFORD — A new city program helps seniors address their fear of falling, which can help them live healthier, more active lives, organizers said.

A graduation ceremony was held Wednesday at Tripp Towers for the latest group of participants in A Matter of Balance, which provides techniques to help participants ease their fear of falling and remain physically active.

The program runs for eight weeks and is funded by a state Prevention Wellness Trust grant, which supports preventative programs for health issues. Classes are available in English, Portuguese and Spanish.

The program fills an important need, said Brenda Weis, director of the New Bedford Health Department. The city “hasn’t been rated well in the past’’ for senior health, she said. The city ranked as the unhealthiest community in the state to grow old, according to a 2014 study commissioned by the Tufts Health Plan Foundation.

“Senior health is a priority’’ for the mayor, Weis said.

Falls among seniors represent a significant medical challenge, according to the Centers for Disease Control. One in three adults ages 65 and older falls each year. Annually, emergency departments treat about 2.5 million nonfatal fall injuries among older adults.

Fear of falling can create a dangerous cycle that, ironically, can lead to more falls, said Boston University professor Jonathan Howland, whose research specialties include falls among the elderly. “As long as you believe you can’t do anything about it, you’re at risk,’’ he said.

Seniors often fear falling, which then keeps them more homebound and less active, he said. That makes them more vulnerable to falls, he said.

They also tend to avoid letting the people around them — their children, for example, or their health care providers — know they have fallen.

“They don’t want to talk about it because if word gets out that they’ve had a fall, their children and health care providers will gang up on them and tell them they can’t live alone,’’ he said.

That is why programs such as A Matter of Balance have great value, he said. Health care professionals can refer vulnerable patients to a program aimed at preventing falls.

Joan Ferreira, a resident of Tripp Towers who completed the program, said she “really enjoyed’’ the program. “It helped me to be stronger,’’ she said. “I hope more people participate.’’ 

For more information, call (508) 992-6278, ext. 2720.

Follow Sandy Quadros Bowles on Twitter at@SandyBowlesSCT