Fall prevention classes start
This year at Age Concern Kapiti we will be continuing our well-established Steady As You Go (SAYGO) falls prevention classes, with four new weekly classes starting around the district this month at O¯ taki, Waikanae, Paraparaumu Beach and Raumati.
As many are aware, falls are the most common cause of injury among older people. One-third of people over the age of 65 have at least one fall every year and this increases to 1 in 2 people over the age of 80. These falls are almost always associated with weakened leg muscles and poor balance. But falls are preventable and by joining our evidence-based SAYGO classes you will improve your strength and balance to help reduce your likelihood of having a fall. It may not be too late when you read this to enrol yourself or a friend for a SAYGO class near you.
We are soon to launch two exciting new initiatives in Ka¯ piti — Staying Safe and Life Without A Car.
Staying Safe is a refresher course for older drivers, a free classroom based course that will help you re-familiarise yourself with traffic rules and safe driving practices. It will also increase your knowledge about other transport options and help you remain independent for longer.
Older people stop driving for various reasons. The resultant feeling of loss of independence can be overwhelming for some. They will agonise about such issues as how can they continue to do their shopping, make medical appointments, cost of alternative transport, loss of social connections, reluctance to being perceived as a burden on others.
But stopping driving need not be a limiting factor that prevents you doing what you want. Life Without A Car is a free classroom based course which demonstrates that adjusting to life without a car doesn’t mean losing independence and freedom. The information provided will highlight some alternatives available to remain active and some solutions on how to go about life with some planning and adjustment.
We will be running several Staying Safe and Life Without A Car courses in the first half of 2020, starting next month. Let us know if you would like to attend either or both.
Call Age Concern Kapiti on (04) 298 8879 for further information.