LIVE STRONG and SAFE
Falls Prevention Program

The goal of the Live Strong and Safe program is to provide seniors with the education and tools needed to reduce their risk of falling. Since the program curricula includes four distinct parts it can be utilized by A4AA staff or by other organizations in its entirety or in segments (e.g., Take 5 to Exercise independently or with Home modification/safety, medication management, and/or nutrition).

A4AA’s Falls Prevention program serves individuals over the age of 60, caregivers, first responders (e.g., EMT, fire fighters), health care workers, and senior service providers. It was designed to meet the needs of the community in a variety of venues, such as small group sessions, conference presentations or classroom workshops.

Workshop and Training SCHEDULE

TOPICS and MATERIALS (for download)

NEWS and HIGHLIGHTS

Background Information

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Workshop and Training SCHEDULE

The 2007-08 Schedule is currently being developed. If you would like to attend a Live Strong and Safe workshop, or if you are interested in a Train-the-Trainer session, please contact Nancy Vasquez at (916) 486-1876 or at nvasquez@a4aa.com

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TOPICS AND MATERIALS (for download)

Live Strong and Safe is a four-part program focusing on:

• Exercise and Balance
• Home Modification and Safety
• Medication Management
• A Healthy Diet

{Click on a topic for details}

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NEWS and HIGHLIGHTS

On July 31, 2007, A4AA received an Aging Achievement Award from the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (N4A).

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Background Information

A4AA personnel, through extensive research and training, had the expertise and resources to develop and implement a multi-dimensional program designed to educate the community on the importance of falls prevention. A team leader assembled a program development committee of six knowledgeable staff, including the Assistant Director, Planner, Dietitian, and four Program Managers. After a draft curriculum was developed, a pilot project was implemented and tested, and outcomes were evaluated.

The initial pilot project took place at an independent living apartment complex consisting of mostly low income and many frail and/or disabled seniors. Three half-day workshops were conducted. The first workshop included: 1) a presentation on the importance of falls prevention and a short video, “Safe Steps”, 2) an exercise presentation followed by an interactive Take 5 to Exercise activity, and 3) a presentation about minor home modification and safety assisted by Rebuilding Together. The second workshop included: 1) a presentation about medication management assisted by a local pharmacist, 2) followed by a workshop on the importance of nutrition and diet in terms of preventing falls. The third workshop, in the form of a Wellness Fair, consisted of a review of the previous presentations, resource tables/information fair, demonstrations (nutrition taste test, home safety devices, etc.), informal interviews to determine success of the program, lunch, distribution of giveaways, Q&A, and a raffle. The three-day pilot event was attended by an average of thirty (30) individuals on each of the three days.

Following the initial program development and pilot project, A4AA tested the four Live Strong and Safe curricula independently at various events.

• Exercise and Home Modification/Safety at two workshops in collaboration with Del Oro Caregiver Resource Center, Rebuilding Together, and a city fire department and senior center
• Medication Management community outreach at a senior health fair
• Take 5 to Exercise: Seated Chair Exercise train-the-trainer program at several congregate nutrition sites.
• Nutrition and general falls prevention education at several congregate nutrition sites and for home delivered meal participants. 

Additional information sharing and falls prevention education include:

• Service provider training for Older Americans Act contractors in the A4AA seven-county service area. Service providers who provide in-home services are required to incorporate A4AA approved falls prevention activities into their services. All other providers are encouraged to train their personnel and provide falls prevention education and/or materials when appropriate (e.g., Information & Assistance programs).
• Multiple community education presentations including several County Commissions on Aging, Retired Teachers Association, and other senior service providers.
• Coordination with the Northern California Falls Prevention Coalition
• Web site development to include a Falls Prevention page on the existing A4AA web site with a separate page for each of the four Live Strong and Safe activities and links to helpful resources (e.g., www.stopfalls.org, www.cdc.gov), and PDF copies of all Live Strong and Safe program materials for information sharing.

Contributions from other partners included a Gerontology intern/fitness instructor from California State University of Sacramento (CSUS) developed Take 5 To Exercise program, and Rebuilding Together’s Safe at Home Program staff provided their expertise about home safety devices and minor home modifications, and staff at the senior apartment complex where the pilot project was conducted.

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