When considering a balance screening, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Maybe you imagine someone standing on one foot, perhaps hopping in place.
But it turns out there’s a lot more to balance than that, as evidenced by the screening sessions at the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Aging Resource Center, which are held from 9:30-11 a.m. on the first Wednesday of every month.
People come to the screenings voluntarily. Some are referred by health care providers while others are encouraged by their family or friends. The falls prevention team also is working with staff at the medical center’s emergency room and primary care providers to get information to people more directly.
From 2-4 p.m. on Tuesday, the Aging Center will host a “Ready, Steady, Balance” program that will include prevention and safety tips and a personal balance screening.
On the following Tuesday (Sept 24.) from 9 a.m.-noon, the Dartmouth Centers for Health & Aging is hosting a Falls Prevention Awareness Day where people can receive balance screenings and learn more about other programs to assist them.
Each screening starts with a questionnaire that asks participants if they’ve fallen in the past year, if they feel unsteady standing or walking and if they worry about falling. A second form includes a checklist of 12 true/false phrases including, “I steady myself by holding onto furniture when walking at home” and “I have some trouble stepping up onto a curb,” which help determine what level of risk they have of falling.
“Unfortunately, once you have fallen once, it makes your chance of falling again higher,” said Sharon Feeney, health and wellness coaching coordinator at the Aging Resource Center, one of the people who conducts the balance screenings.
What counts as a fall isn’t always clear, so sometimes people don’t know whether it’s happened.
For the purposes of the balance screenings, a fall is defined as unintentional contact with the ground or a lower level, including a couch or chair. Additionally, just because someone wasn’t injured after falling doesn’t mean it doesn’t count as a fall, or something to be taken seriously.
“Some people really need to hear the definition of fall,” said Dawna Pidgeon, a physical therapist at DHMC, who oversees the balance screenings. “Some people think it’s a natural part of aging. It’s not.”
The physical assessment comes next and is broken down into three parts: a timed walk “to assess mobility”; a 30-second chair stand, where participants cross their arms over their chests and rise up and down from their chair as many times as they can “to test strength and endurance”; and finally the balance test itself where people stand with their feet in various positions, among them on one foot.
In addition to physical factors, fear of falling can also put people at risk for falling, Feeney and Pidgeon said.
“If you’re fearful, that can lead to limiting activities,” Pidgeon said, adding that fear could prevent someone from gardening — a form of exercise — because they’re worried about tripping. “In essence, the less you do, the less you can do.”
At the end of each screening, the balance screeners give participants tips about what they can do to improve their balance. This includes recommendations to take “Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance” classes or “A Matter of Balance” course, both of which are taught at various locations throughout the Upper Valley. The next 8-week “Matter of Balance” class begins at the Aging Resource Center Annex (located inside the Upper Valley Senior at 10 Campbell St., in downtown Lebanon) on Oct. 3 from 10 a.m.-noon and will meet on Thursdays through Nov. 21.
Tai Ji Quan courses, which meet twice a week for one hour over the course of 24 weeks, has been proven to decrease fall risk of people ages 65 and older by 55%, according to a fact sheet provided by Pidgeon.
“Not everyone does it immediately, but people over time think it’s important,” Feeney said. “It’s planting seeds. They’re already taking an incentive by coming here.”
People also receive a list of ways to make the rooms in their home safer to reduce their risk of falls. These suggestions include making sure railings are sturdy, stairs are clutter-free, floor mats are slip-resistant and electrical cords are off the floor.
While someone who has a high risk of falling can lower their risk, the earlier someone addresses their fall risk, the likelier a better outcome will be.
According to a handout from the National Council on Aging, here are six things people can do to reduce their risk of falling.
■Find a good balance and exercise program.
■Talk to your health care provider.
■Regularly review your medications with your doctor or pharmacist.
■Get your vision and hearing checked annually and update your eyeglasses.
■Keep your home safe. Talk to your family members.
“Everyone can reduce their risk of falls,” Pidgeon said.
Editor’s note: For more information on balance screenings or to sign up for a course, contact the Aging Resource Center at 603-653-3460.
Additionally, Gifford Medical Center is hosting three physical therapist conducted balance assessment sessions at Twin River Health Center, located at108 N. Main St., in White River Junction. They will take place from 4-5:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10, and from 12:30- 2 p.m. and 3:30-5 p.m. on Monday, Oct. 14. Call 802-296-7370 to schedule a 30-minute session.
Liz Sauchelli can be reached at esauchelli@vnews.com or 603-727-3221.
