Area Seniors to use Tai Chi to help prevent falls

By Ken Johnston
Editor

The ancient Romans thought that SAGE was a sacred plant that could save life and create it.
Locally SAGES stands for a new program called Safe And Gentle Exercises for Seniors.
Heidi Ivall, of the Northwestern Health Unit (NWHU) in Rainy River is busy coordinating efforts to run SAGES in Rainy River, Stratton and Bergland beginning in January.
The main goal of the exercise program is to prevent seniors from falls. According to statistics from the NWHU one third of all seniors fall each year and one half of seniors over 80 fall. 25% of all admissions to long term care facilities are due to falls.
SAGES will use Tai Chi as a gentle form of exercise that improves balance and strength. Seniors will be encouraged to work at their own comfort zone. The benefits from the two hours of safe and gentle exercises will include improved balance, increased agility and mobility, increased flexibility, improved muscle tone, increased strength in arms and legs, improved blood pressure and heart rates, improved ability to climb stairs and enhanced capacity to stay in home longer.
Ivall said that NWHU’s mandate includes working on injury prevention. “You can prevent falls,” she explained.
She first heard of the program earlier this year and with the high number of seniors in this area she thought it would be a perfect fit. The Community Care agency of Kawartha Lakes, Ontario is already running the program and Ivall has used their model to develop it here.
The program will begin Jan. 7/08 in Bergland at McCrosson-Tovell School, Jan. 9/08 at the Stratton Senior’s Center and Jan. 10/08 at the Rainy River Seniors Activity Depot.
It will encompass two hours one day per week for ten weeks. Of that about one hour will be dedicated to the Tai Chi. The balance of the time will be used to strengthen the falls prevention goal in other ways. “We will hold information sessions with different topics each week,” said Ivall. Topics will include things like identifying risks of falling and living more safely and longer in their own homes.
There will also be a nutrition break at each session.
The entire program will be free with the exception of a dollar or two donation to cover the costs of the nutrition break. Ivall noted that the rest of the program has been funded by the Northwestern Healthy Living Partnership Program from the NWHU.
While she is coordinating it, she noted that she has had several volunteers come forward to help out. Jeanette Armstrong, Pat Stoyka, Nicole Therrien, Marilyn Hansen, Dawn Jarvis and Jessie Bodnarchuk will be there to help out.
The Tai Chi will be done by watching a DVD video and the funding from NWHU has been used to pay for free weights, mats, the video and support manual.
Each location can take up to 15 seniors and preregistration is a must. Ivall said that it is also recommended that participants consult with a doctor or nurse practitioner before beginning any exercise program. Nurse Practitioner Nicole Therrien will see anyone wanted to sign up before the start date and there will be an opportunity to talk to her at the first day as well.
To register call Heidi at 852-3268 weekdays. If all the spots are filled Ivall said they will keep a waiting list and probably run the program again.