Older adults in Central Florida are benefiting from a new partnership between AdventHealth Well 65+ and the Senior Resource Alliance. The collaboration is designed to help seniors stay active, reduce their risk of falls, and maintain independence.
The initiative includes health and wellness workshops held at AdventHealth Well 65+ practices. These sessions, led by the Senior Resource Alliance, include programs such as A Matter of Balance. This eight-session program aims to reduce fear of falling and encourage physical activity among seniors. Classes are offered in both English and Spanish at no cost to participants.
Barbara Breglia, who joined the program after her husband’s death led to decreased activity and declining balance, shared her experience: “The year before I took the balance classes I had fallen at the mall and broken my shoulder. I know I didn’t want that to happen again,” said Breglia. “Every little exercise I have learned is for some part of my body that has helped me stay on my feet and not be on that ground.”
Bernadette Foxworth also spoke about her positive experience with the program after moving from Philadelphia to Florida: “I fell a couple of times. I use a cane because, even though I want to put it down, I have to use it,” said Foxworth. “But if I keep coming to these classes, I might put it down. I might get enough balance exercises to feel more confident when I’m walking.”
The partnership was developed based on evidence-based practices and feedback from patient surveys. Genevieve Baranuk-Delgado, director of support services at AdventHealth Well 65+, collaborated with the Senior Resource Alliance after identifying an increased need for fall prevention resources among older adults.
“We’ve heard from a lot of seniors that once they fall, they tend to stay home,” said Irene De La Cruz, health and wellness program manager for the Senior Resource Alliance. “They want to stay in their comfort zone. We wanted to bring them out — not just to get together, which was part of it, but also to help them exercise and stay active.”
Naiomy Mendez, health and wellness facilitator for the Senior Resource Alliance, explained how the A Matter of Balance class addresses both education and physical activity: “The first hour of our A Matter of Balance class focuses on education. We start by teaching participants about their thoughts,” said Mendez. “Many people don’t realize that falling often begins in the mind. Then, as a team, we work together to find solutions to overcome that fear. The second half of the class includes exercises designed to build confidence, strengthen bones and muscles and help prevent falls.”
Other workshops available through this partnership address movement and balance for arthritis management as well as chronic condition support through Living Healthy for Seniors.
AdventHealth Orlando is located in Orlando, Florida; it was founded in 1908 and serves as both a pediatric ward provider and training hospital under current president Terry Shaw.
More information about available workshops can be found by contacting local AdventHealth Well 65+ practices or visiting Well65Plus.com.
