In balance: an evidence based fall prevention programme for older adults

Title	In balance
Year	2001
Type	fall prevention
Group or individual	Group
Home or centrebased	Centre
Setting	Community
Target group	65+
Duration	4 months
Frequency	2 times/week
Reach	6000 participants
Evaluation	effectiveness
Costs
Copyright	no
Contact	ger kroes, ger.kroes@nisb.nl
Website	www.nisb.nl

Short description

The programme Until recently the basic principles for fall prevention involve making environments safer and taking protective measures. However, research has since found that senior-specific information and training may achieve a 50% fall reduction. This fact is the starting point for the programme. In balance is an educational course combined with an exercise training-programme to prevent fall accidents. The aim is that participants formulate answers to questions like: what unsafe situations can I remedy in my own house, am I active enough to maintain good health, what can I do by myself to get steadier on my own feet? Each session includes information, followed by practical exercises. It is this mixture which makes the course unique and transparent for participants. Format The 'In balance approach' consists of four stages, each of which contains moments when participants can decide whether to continue or to stop, as for most people taking part in physical activities is a big step.(intrinsic motivation) Stage 1: information (two-hour session). Stage 2: awareness raising (educational course and exercise programme of three two-hour sessions, including risk screening and a balance test). Stage 3: training (ten weekly one-hour sessions, the second and ninth of which are two-hour sessions as they involve balance testing). Group training aimed at general fitness, balance, muscular strength, daily life movements and Tai Chi. Stage 4: continuation in existing exercise groups with ongoing attention to balance elements (e.g. exercise programmes for seniors, Tai Chi) and/or home exercising based on the exercises in the course book