Fall 2011 - Presbyterian Homes & Services

The Balanced Life
A Matter of Balance educates and empowers older adults to prevent falls
One glance at Isabelle
O’Connell’s apartment in
The Deerfield in New
Richmond, WI, and her
artistic skill is unmistakable.
Her paintings line the walls, vivid colors
and delicate brush strokes blending to
create pictures of birds, buildings and
natural settings.
“I took painting classes,” Isabelle recounts.
“I loved doing it, but I had to give it up.”
It has been ten years since Isabelle held
a paintbrush to compose one of her
masterpieces. She originally took up
the hobby after retiring from 37 years
of teaching, but reluctantly gave up her
pastime when macular degeneration
developed. Now legally blind, Isabelle’s loss
of vision has also forced her to part with
other activities like reading, which was
especially hard.
Lynn Lueders, Fitness Instructor (left),
leads Deerfield residents in a discussion
about maintaining proper balance.
“It was very difficult because I used to keep
a book going all the time,” Isabelle recalls.
“It was a part of my life. But you have to
find a way to get around it.” Isabelle, who
considers herself very independent, now
listens to books recorded on CDs instead.
She says it helps her learn more about the
world and keeps her mind engaged. Isabelle
and her friends enjoy their favorite card
games (euchre and 500) using a special
large deck.
When Isabelle began to notice that her
limited sight was affecting her balance, she
decided to be proactive. “I wanted to be
ahead of the game,” she adds.
In early May, Isabelle joined 13 other
Deerfield residents to take part in A Matter
of Balance: Managing Concerns about
Falls. The eight-week class is being offered
at Presbyterian Homes & Services (PHS)
communities as part of an active campaign
to reduce the risk and fear of falls and
enhance the lives of older adults.
The falls-prevention program provides
residents with a safe environment in which
to discuss their concerns and impressions
about falling, learn new exercises to help
with balance and flexibility, and learn from
and interact with their neighbors. But
perhaps most importantly, the course helps
residents combat fears and reshape their
mindset regarding falls.
“The physical aspects of falling, that’s one
side,” says Lynn Lueders, Fitness Instructor,
and one of the Matter of Balance leaders at
The Deerfield. “And we can address those.
Especially in fitness, we do address those
constantly. But for Matter of Balance, we
incorporate many areas. There’s a lot of
psychological aspects, such as positive
thinking and anxiety management."
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FALL 2011