Did you know vision, hearing, cognition, medications, and fear of falling all play a role in fall risk? The SAFER Stepping workshop was developed to address ALL of these factors and more!
Success Matters is holding a summer session of the SAFER Stepping falls prevention program, which is not offered anywhere else in the country. The SAFER Stepping acronym stands for Surefooted Aging with Falls-related Education and Resources, and the workshop was carefully designed for Beatitudes Campus residents. When many older adults think about falls risks, they consider balance and the obvious trip hazards, but few consider the many other components that combine to contribute to an overall increased risk of falls. The SAFER Stepping workshop was developed to address all of these factors. SAFER Stepping meets twice weekly for an hour and divides time between developing strength, coordination, and balance through exercises, AND systematically addressing the following falls-related factors: fear of falling, vision and hearing related falls risks, brain health and nutrition, medications related to falls, advocacy and how to discuss falls with health professionals, friends, and family, as well as home and environmental risks and adaptations.
The next SAFER Stepping workshop will begin again on Tuesday, August 7th at 3:00PM and will meet every Tuesday and Thursday for six weeks through September 13th. Call Jessica Meyer at x16110 to reserve a spot or be put on the waiting list for the next available course.*
Thirty years ago, one Rabbi Berger spoke to his congregation about witnessing the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger with his daughter. He spoke about what the astronauts were probably thinking as they remained alive for about 5 minutes after the explosion as they fell the 12 miles to the ocean below.
He spoke about how the astronauts had probably said to themselves things similar to: “if I had only known, if I had only realized, if I had only appreciated, then I could have. . .” during that frightful 5 minute fall.
If you knew when your last goodbye was going to be, would you make that goodbye full of love, warmth, and tenderness?
If you realized your time was limited, would you enjoy your remaining days more?
If you were aware of when everything was to be taken from you, would you appreciate those things around you more?
“That scene still haunts me” Rabbi Berger said as the sermon closed. “The explosion, and then five minutes. If only I. . .If only I. . .If only I. . . and then the capsule hits the water, it’s all over. Then you realize, it’s all the same – five minutes, five days, 50 years. It’s all the same, for it’s over before we realize.”
“If only I could – you still can, you’ve got today.”
About three years after Rabbi Berger spoke to his congregation, he was flying from Denver to Chicago when the jet’s rear engine exploded. The jet continued to fly/glide for about forty minutes before it crashed in a field in Sioux City, Iowa. The rabbi and his wife died, while their daughter and son survived.
Then you realize, it’s all the same – five minutes, five days, 50 years. It’s all the same, for it’s over before we realize.” “If only I could – you still can, you’ve got today.”
What would you do? If you were put in a similar situation and it was going to end sooner than expected, what would you do? Would you call people? Would you pray? Would you hug those around you until the last moment? Live every day as it is the last. Take nothing for granted and love those around you. Spread happiness and love so that if it does end too early, you know it at least is ending well.
