Area seniors using SAGES to ahelp prevent falls

By Ken Johnston
Editor

A new program to help prevent falls in the senior population has proven to be vastly popular in this area.
SAGES (Sage Advice and Gentle Exercises for Seniors), was promoted and run by the Northwestern Health Unit after Heidi Ivall took some training along with volunteers Pat Stoyka and Jeanette Armstrong.
Using Tai Chi seniors build muscles and improve balance which in turn helps prevent falls. According to NWHU statistics one third of all seniors fall each year and that number goes up to one half of seniors over 80 fall. One quarter of all admissions to long term care facilities are due to falls.
So rather than being reactive, the NWHU decided to offer SAGES in Rainy River, Stratton and Bergland. Response to it has been overwhelming to say the least. There are 18 seniors participating in it in Rainy River and a waiting list to get in. Stratton has 15 and Bergland 12 participating.
The program lasts 10 weeks and began in early January. Ivall said that it could not have happened if it weren’t for the volunteers that are running it. In Rainy River Jeanette Armstrong, Jessie Bodnarchuk and Dawn Jarvis are making it happen. In Bergland Pat Stoyka and Rebecca Wood are coordinating and in Stratton Lydia Sharp and Nancy Fretter are doing their part.
Each week the groups get together and do Tai Chi using a video. Seniors from 55-90+ are taking the program. With that wide range in ages, Ivall said that the participants are encouraged to go at their own ability levels. “They can do it from a chair or standing if they like. The program is modified to the seniors’ ability.”
In addition to the exercising a nutrition break is offered and each week there is a different information topic on things like falls prevention, medication safety, foot care, vision, nutrition, etc.
Many of the seniors have also purchased their own Tai Chi video so that they can do the exercises more than once a week and beyond the 10 week program.
Ivall said that with the strong support by both volunteers and participants NWHU hopes that SAGES can be offered again, perhaps in the fall. All the equipment and supporting materials have been purchased so there will be little if any cost to run it again. “It will depend on the volunteers and how busy they are as to when we will run it again,” explained Ivall.
The program is free of charge with the exception of a $2 charge for the nutrition breaks. It is thought that the program, while free, will yield huge benefits for seniors. At the beginning of the program and at the end NWHU conducts the Berg Balance Test with the participants to gauge improvements to strength and balance. Ivall is sure that the results will be very positive.
In addition to the physical benefits the social aspect is awesome too. “They tell me they are loving it and attendance has been outstanding,” said Ivall.