A Matter of Balance

A Matter of Balance program is designed for older adults to reduce the fear of falling and improve activity levels. The program enables participants to reduce the fear of falling by learning to view falls as controllable, setting goals for increasing activity levels, making small changes to reduce fall risks at home, and exercise to increase strength and balance. Participants learn about the importance of exercise in preventing falls and practice exercises to improve strength, coordination, and balance. Additional topics include home safety, assertiveness, developing positive strategies for change, reducing barriers to exercise, identifying physical risk factors for falls, personal action planners, recognizing misconceptions about falls, and moving from self-defeating to self-motivating thoughts.