HOULTON, Maine — Houlton-Hodgdon Adult and Community Education (HHACE) has expanded its offerings to community members, especially older learners, in an effort to provide better enrichment opportunities to the community.
There have been successful courses in computers, art courses, and also a fall prevention program.
“A Matter of Balance class has been a wonderful addition to or region,” said Joe Fagnant, HHACE director. “This course has offered an opportunity for people to learn how to prevent falls, understand health and nutrition, and also gather to meet and learn new facts.”
This past fall a class ended on Oct. 31 where instructor Bonnie Pratt and assistant Robin Chambers reviewed and recapped the eight classes. Fagnant presented certificates of completion to this group.
Several guest speakers also presented valuable information, according to Fagnant. Doris Sherman was the health care professional speaker for the class. Sherman is an active nurse in the area and gave the class some tips and advice.
Preventing falls could be as simple as carrying a bag of sand in your car within easy reach to put on icy walkways or pathways. Fagnant said people should be careful of the clothes they wear as baggy clothes can catch on furniture, door handles, and be tripping and fall hazards. Focusing on overall health, including a good diet, with calcium and vitamin C supplements, and exercise for strengthening muscles are other tips.
There is a difference between a trip and a fall. What do you do if you find yourself falling? Suggestions from the presentations included learning to tuck and roll like a football player. If you fall backwards, tuck your chin bringing your head forward so you don’t hit the back of your head.
“But, the best plan is to prevent instead of recover from falls,” he said. “Understanding how to adjust your routine, remove tripping hazards, and increase strength are ways to protect from a fall. A safety alert worn at all times brings a lot of peace of mind to families. Having a phone buddy to check up on you regularly is a good idea.”
There are several available courses through partnerships with RSVP, the Aroostook Agency on Aging, and Houlton Hodgdon Adult and Community Education that address the health and wellbeing of our aging community. The next available course coming to the region is Bone Builders, which is an evidence-based course where learners will train with specific exercises using hand and ankle free-weights to improve balance and strength.
“The goal of the program is to address weaknesses caused by osteoporosis”, stated Lynn Glover, one of the instructors for the upcoming class. “RSVP Bone Builders relies upon low-impact weight training to protect against fractures, through increased muscular strength, bone density, and balance.”
The next Bone Builders class begins on Jan. 7 and will run on Mondays and Wednesdays from 9-11:30 a.m. There is a free two-week trial period to see if learners like the course and opportunities that come from training to improve strength and balance.
“The goal of the course is to have two days a week of focused activity and exercise,” Fagnant said. Those who are interested in this class or would like to have more information, contact the Houlton Hodgdon Adult and Community Education program at 521-3100 ext 5, or visit them at the Houlton Higher Education Center.
