Health courses may help Midland seniors keep away from falling

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Most seniors know that there is a risk of a serious fall in their later years. Your knees aren’t working as well, your vision isn’t quite the same, and your quick reflexes are gone.

But Midland County Senior Services fall prevention specialist Trena Winans says there are things seniors can do to avoid falling.

Winans is the director of education and public relations for Senior Services. She is also a master trainer for fall prevention.

“Everyone falls,” she told the Daily News in a recent interview, but the consequences are far more serious for seniors.

Winans said there are several reasons why seniors fall more often, or fall more heavily, as they get older. Seniors have less strength and flexibility, their eyesight is probably not as good as it used to be, and they may have health issues that have led to less reliable balance or even swollen feet or legs.

“There are a number of reasons why the risks are particularly high,” she said.

After a fall or near fall, seniors also sometimes try to be less active, fearing a more serious trip. But Winans said inactivity could make the risk of falling even greater.

So she tries to teach seniors to be more active, flexible and work on improving their balance through a variety of fitness classes in the area.

“There’s a reason I open physical education classes to 50-year-olds,” she said. “We lose muscle and flexibility every year and those are big, big factors. … The worst thing is not moving anymore.”

Senior Services also offers regular “brown bag medication checks,” in which participants pack all of their medications, supplements, and herbs in a brown bag and take them to a pharmacist for advice. Some medications and supplements don’t mix well — and that could lead to health problems or possibly a fall, Winans said.

She said most people experience falls in their own homes. That’s why she teaches seniors to think about improvements in their environment – such as For example, taking better care of extension cords and carpets, putting up grab bars and laying out non-slip runners in the bathtub.

Seniors should also invest in better lighting in key areas of their home. It may cost a bit, but she said it’s still better than the possible alternative.

“You’re going to spend thousands if you have a bad fall,” she said.

While the pandemic may have made some seniors reluctant to exercise in public, Winans pointed to the wide variety of fitness classes available now – and many beginning in January. These include Bonesaver, Fall Prevention and Balance, Line Dancing, Pilates, Tai Chi, Tone and Stretch, Walk15, Yoga and Zumba.

Some of the courses have different levels – from beginner to advanced. Tuition is also available in a variety of locations – from Midland to Sanford to some of the more outlying family centers.

Winans said curious seniors can try a course if they wish, simply by dropping in and seeing how it works before signing up. Friends and family members can also be key to getting a senior active again by encouraging or helping them quit at a session.

“The most important thing is to find out what’s holding her back,” she said. “Maybe they don’t know what’s out there and you can help with the research.”

Midland’s Judy Isquith, 85, and a former skier, skater and cyclist, said she’s enjoyed a variety of local training classes geared toward seniors.

“Senior Services has a lot of great courses for us older boys,” she said. “And it feels good to move. I would recommend it to everyone.”

Isquith said she knows several friends who have suffered serious falls.

“I have first hand experience of people who fall and some have been very active people. … The results have been devastating, and I’m trying to avoid that myself.”

Winans said that movement should be viewed as something powerful and essential.

“No medicine will do for you what exercise does. Let’s say you take three medications. Then you have to think of exercise as your fourth drug, and you have to take it every day.”

For more information on senior exercise, contact Senior Services at 989-633-3700 or the Greater Midland Community Center at 989-832-7937.