IU Health Frankfort announced the upcoming workshop dates for its “Stepping On” class that intends to help senior citizens improve balance and strength to avoid falls in the future, and Paul Phillippe Resource Center released that they will provide transportation for seniors seeking to participate in the class.
Trauma Outreach Coordinator at IU Health Arnett Teresa Williams, RN, BSN, will lead the class through numerous exercises with keynote speakers providing further insight. Williams stated that since IU Health has a verified trauma center, the staff is tasked with conducting outreach opportunities to prevent injuries and accidents that have become a concern.
Williams announced that IU Health Frankfort will be conducting its “Stepping On” class this spring at the IU Health Frankfort Administration Building at 1300 S. Jackson St. in Frankfort. “Stepping On” is a free, 7-week course that occurs every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to noon beginning March 12. Williams commented that the workshop is specifically designed for anyone who is 65 or older, has experienced a fall in the past year, is fearful of falling, lives at home and does not have dementia, but those that do not specifically fall under all the categories are still welcome to contact Williams to talk about registration.
“Stepping On” is an evidence-based program originally developed in Australia that was adopted by trauma centers in Wisconsin in the United States. Williams expressed that Wisconsin has seen a tremendous change in the rate of falls and severity of accidents for senior citizens since the program was introduced. The program began at IU Health Arnett in 2017, but the staff paused the course due to the pandemic as senior citizens were declared as an at-risk population. The Frankfort location began the class in April 2023 for its first iteration and has continued seeing improvements for community members.
“One of the big things that we see is falls in people that are over 55 to 60 years old. Around here in Frankfort, Clinton County, Tippecanoe County, the state of Indiana is not any different than the rest of the nation. A lot of people fall when they reach that age because of changes in balance and strength and different illnesses and things that have happened to them,” Williams said in a 2023 interview as the program was beginning in Frankfort. “It’s just a program that offers them a way to reduce falls and increases their mobility. It’s kind of like the old saying, ‘you snooze, you lose.’ Once they sit down in a recliner and quit being mobile and getting out and about, they are less likely to get out and about. We want to keep them moving and out doing things and being active.”
During the 7-week class, the class will meet an eye physician who will discuss diseases of the eye, a pharmacist who will discuss different medications and the risk of certain medications to increase the risk of falls and a law enforcement officer who will explain community safety and help increase the participants’ awareness of their surroundings. The class will also explore nutrition, safety inside the home and more.
“It builds confidence in being able to get out and about and maintain your independence and mobility,” Williams said. “It builds their confidence that they can do this and they can get out and be active and increase their mobility and increase their independence.”
Williams stated that the class involves exercises from the chair, standing and walking, but the exercises will not include typical exercises found at a fitness center. Participants will be asked to step outside to work on stepping up and down curbs, walking up and down slopes, going up and down stairs and getting in and out of a car.
“They’re not your typical go to the gym and do four-count burpees, pull-ups and walking on the treadmill. It’s not that kind of exercise class. It’s about balance and strength. We do modify them to meet the needs of the participants,” Williams said. “We start out with them holding onto something to make sure that they are good and secure, and then we advance them slowly to where they don’t have to hold on or they just hover over a table in case they start to get off balance or something. They’re not your typical exercises you go to the gym you do. You’re not going to work up a sweat. It’s strictly about strength and balance.”
The exercise portion of the class begins by having the participants sit in an armchair in front of a table. The participants may hover over the table or hold onto the table for support. The class leaders will ask the participants to stand up and sit down to measure how many times the participant can perform the action while remaining in control. Participants are asked to remember their starting number and will redo the exercise after the course concludes to measure improvement.
“We have them keep that number. We don’t keep it. It’s just for their own doing. Then, at the end of the seven weeks when they’ve been to the classes and they’ve worked during the week, then we ask them to try it again,” Williams said. “We don’t ask them what their number is, but we ask them to look at what your number was when you started and what it is now, and it’s always better.”
Once the class concludes, participants will receive a phone call from Williams to discuss their routine outside of the class and whether continuing the exercises has proven successful. Williams commented that she conducts at-home visits for those that wish for more instruction outside of the class where she will talk with the participant regarding possible changes they may need to make in the future to continue their success.
“If you’re really wondering or you know that you’re having problems with maybe a little bit of balance and a little bit of not being able to get out and about or having a hard time getting out of a chair, come,” Williams said. “We’ll make it better.”
Classes will be held on March 12, March 19, March 26, April 2, April 9, April 16 and April 23 from 10 a.m. to noon at the IU Health Frankfort Hospital Administrative Office Building at 1300 S. Jackson St. in Frankfort.
Interested individuals may contact Williams for registration at 765-412-2640. Participants need to register as soon as possible as space is limited.
Those in need of transportation to the class may contact the Paul Phillippe team at 765-659-4060 or dlayton@clintoncountytransit.org.
