| News,

Seniors will be able to add a little balance to their lives and diminish their fear of falling during a four-week course in Wheatland.
Care Connection for Aging Services will offer an eight-session course called “Matter of Balance,” from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays beginning Feb. 19 at the McCarty Senior Center, 19482 Highway 54, in Wheatland.
To register, call 1-800-748-7826. The course is being offered free to participants.
Three in 10 seniors fall each year, and about 20 percent of those are injured. Falls are a leading cause of injury and death among older people. Falls often happen at home, and many can be prevented.
The class is meant to reduce the fear of falling and to increase activity among older adults. It was developed in accordance with research conducted by Boston University.
The participants will learn:
• To set goals for increasing activity.
• To view falls and the fear of falling as controllable.
• To exercise to create strength and balance.
• To reduce risk factors for falls.
Class participants can expect discussion, problem solving, skill building, assertiveness training, exercises and videos.
Nine of 10 participants in the nationally recognized Matter of Balance program said they are more comfortable talking about the fear of falling, planned to increase exercise, and would recommend the program to others.
Care Connection offers the program as part of its mission to provide resources and services that empower people to create healthy aging experiences. Care Connection for Aging Services, a non-profit area agency on aging, serves 13 West Central Missouri counties, including Hickory.