Trumbull Health Department Staff Trained in Matter of Balance Program

Local Health Departments Collaborate to Reduce Fear of Falling Among Older Adults

FAIRFIELD, Connecticut (March 21, 2023) – In Connecticut, Falls are a leading cause of injury related death for individuals who are over the age of 65 years. Falls also contribute to hospitalizations and emergency department visits among older adults. Unfortunately, falls are the leading cause of hip fractures among old adults, however some falls can be preventable.

To help older adults reduce their fear of falling the Fairfield Health Department trained other local health departments in Region 1 and the Cheshire Community YMCA on the Matter of Balance program. The Fairfield Health Department has a Master Trainer on staff who attended a two-day intensive training in Maine and is therefore able to train others in the program. In order to be trained in the program and be a Coach, individuals need to attend a two-day, four hour a day training on the program. In total, 14 individuals from the Aspetuck Health District, Cheshire Community YMCA, New Canaan Health Department, Norwalk Health Department, Stratford Health Department, and Trumbull Health Department have been trained. “By training the other Health Department’s and YMCA’s, we can help reach more individuals with this program” said Santina Jaronko who is a Master Trainer for the Matter of Balance program for the Fairfield Health Department.

Matter of Balance is an evidence-based program that was developed by the Partnership for Healthy Aging. This program is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels among older adults. Comprised of eight two-hour sessions, participants learn how to view falls as controllable, set goals for increasing activity, make changes to reduce fall risk at home, and exercise to increase strength and balance.

For more information or to see a list of upcoming classes, locations, and times, please visit: www.fairfieldct.org/HealthEd. For more information on the Matter of Balance program, please visit: www.mainehealth.org/mob.

For questions, please contact your local health department for upcoming program information.