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MOWDIABLOREGION.ORG
   
MEDIA CONTACT:
Susannah Meyer
Community Engagement Director
smeyer@mowdr.org
925.963.1611
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Walnut Creek, Calif - The Martinez Outpatient Clinic, a Veterans Administration (VA) hospital, has partnered with Meals on Wheels Diablo Region, a full-service nonprofit organization dedicated to improving all aspects of senior lives in Contra Costa County, to launch A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls program. The program is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase physical activity among older adults through expertly curated movements and exercises by A Matter of Balance coaches. Meals on Wheels Diablo Region is the only organization in the county with a Master Trainer on staff certified by MaineHealth’s Partnership for Healthy Living.
“The workshop encourages participants to work together to problem solve and create action steps that reduce their risk for falls,” says Alayne Balke, Fall Prevention Program Manager for Meals on Wheels Diablo Region. “After completing the program, participants feel more confident. We also see new friendships develop and many going on to join other exercise programs. I am very proud that we are now able to share this program with our veterans.”
Meals on Wheel Diablo Region’s A Matter of Balance program has certified 20 coaches in Northern California, including 9 from the VA system. The coaches at the Martinez VA include physical therapists, physical therapy assistants and blind rehabilitation therapists. The Martinez Outpatient Clinic will offer the program to patients on an ongoing basis with special sessions for visually impaired patients.
“I started the ‘A Matter of Balance’ program to provide fall prevention that goes beyond orientation, mobility, and low-vision therapy, in order to help the wide range of Veterans we serve,” said Cathleen Firestone, Blind Rehabilitation Specialist at the Martinez VA. “We know the impact the ‘A Matter of Balance program’ can make and we’re excited for this collaboration with Meals on Wheels Diablo Region.”
The A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls program at the Martinez Outpatient Clinic starts on August 23, 2018. For more information about this program please contact Cathleen Firestone at (925) 372-2000 ex. 5156.
For information about becoming A Matter of Balance coach or additional program details, please contact Alayne Balke abalke@mowdr.org.
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