Health & Wellness

Stepping On

What is Stepping On?
Stepping On is a program that has been researched and proven to reduce falls in older people. It consists of a workshop that meets for two hours a week for seven weeks. Workshops are led by a
health professional and a peer leader – someone who, just like you, is concerned about falls. In addition, local guest experts provide information on exercise, vision, safety, and medications.

Topics include:

• Simple and fun balance and strength training
• The role vision plays in keeping your balance
• How medications can contribute to falls
• Ways to keep from falling when out in your community
• What to look for in safe footwear
• How to eliminate fall hazards from your home

Is this workshop for you?

Stepping On is designed specifically for anyone who:

• Is 65 or older
• Has had a fall in the past year
• Is fearful of falling
• Lives at home
• Does not have dementia

Living Well 

Living Well is an evidence-based workshop for people who have one or more chronic conditions. A chronic condition is an on-going health problem or disease such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, and other long-term problems. Developed at Stanford University, the Living Well workshop meets for 2-1/2 hours a week for six weeks. Classes are highly participative, where mutual support and success build participants’ confidence in their ability to manage their health condition to maintain active and fulfilling lives. It is facilitated by two trained leaders in a classroom style, but most of the learning comes from sharing and helping others with similar challenges.

Workshops are best for anyone who:
Has, or lives with someone who has, one or more chronic conditions, is living in a home or apartment; and Is not suffering from dementia.

Living Well benefits:

• Improved general health (as reported by participants)
• Fewer days of hospitalization
• Fewer out-patient health care visits

Walk With Ease  

Walk With Ease is a structured walking program that offers support, information and tools to help participants develop successful exercise routines. The evidence-based program is designed for people with or without arthritis – young and old, male and female, fit and not-so-fit. Walk With Ease class will teach participants how to safely make physical activity part of their everyday life. Based on research and tested programs in exercise science, behavior change and arthritis management, Walk With Ease is shown to:

• Increase balance, strength, & walking pace
• Reduce pain and discomfort of arthritis
• Improve overall health
• Build confidence to be physically active

The class is taught by a Certified Walk With Ease Leader. During the program, participants will learn proper stretching and pain management techniques, as well as build stamina and walking pace. The program can even be modified to meet the needs of individual participants, so that each person can develop an exercise routine that fits their unique goals. Classes meet 3 hours a week for 6 weeks.

Links

Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging https://wihealthyaging.org/

GWAAR Healthy Aging http://www.gwaar.org/for-professionals/health-promotion-for-professionals.html

National Institute on Aging – NIH http://www.nia.nih.gov

National Institute of Health – Senior Health http://nihseniorhealth.gov

Health.gov http://www.health.gov

Healthfinder.gov http://www.healthfinder.gov