A Matter of Balance- East Berlin Area Community Center

According to the CDC, one in four Americans 65 years of age and older will fall each year. Falls, whether they occur with an injury or not, have a large impact on quality of life. A growing number of older adults fear falling and choose to limit their social lives and activities. This can cause declines in physical ability, mental health, and independence.A Matter of Balance is a free evidenced-based program offered through WellSpan. It has been shown to decrease the fear of falling and increase activity levels which helps to reduce the risk of falling. It consists of 8 two-hour courses with a trained coach and 8-12 participants. In the class participants will learn that falls are not a part of the aging process, create reasonable goals to increase activity, and lessen fall risk factors. After completing Matter of Balance participants report improved confidence in activities and their strength, as well as fewer falls.Individuals Who Could Benefit:Those with a fear of fallingHave a history of fallsWould like to increase activityNeed to improve balance and strengthAge 60 years or older, able to walk, and can problem-solve

Join Dementia Friendly PA for their upcoming free webinar, "The Relationship Between the Arts and Living Well with Dementia" on Monday, December 9th, 2024 from 11AM-12:30PM ET. Attendees will:-Understand the impact of various forms of art on cognitive function and emotional well-being in individuals living with dementia.-Recognize the benefits of arts-based interventions.-Develop practical strategies for integrating arts-based activities tailored to the needs of individuals living with dementia.Speakers include: Jason Karlawish, MD, Co-Director, Penn Memory Center, University of Pennsylvania; Jamie Dunlap, Chief of Creative Catalysts & Lifelong Learning, PA Council on the Arts; Susan Shifrin, PhD, Executive Director, ARTZ Philadelphia; and Janice Whitaker, M.E.d., BSN, RN, CDP, CGNE Administrator and Education Program Manager, Tressa Nese and Helen Diskevich Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence, Penn State Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing. 

Dementia Friendly PA presents the free, upcoming webinar "Beyond the Impact: Understanding Concussions and CTE" on Wednesday, February 5th, 2025 on Zoom from 11:00AM to 12:30PM EST. The webinar will cover:-Fundamentals of concussions-Connections between concussions and Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)-Current treatment for concussions-Concussion prevention and education-Research opportunitiesPresenters: Julia Kofler, MD, Associate Professor, Department of Pathology, Director, Division of Neuropathology, Director, National Sports Brain Bank, Co-director and Neuropathology Core Leader, Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Pittsburgh; Jacob Ponce, B.S., Clinical Research Coordinator, Department of Pathology, Division of Neuropathology, University of Pittsburgh; Aaron J. Zynda, Ph.D, CCRP, Post-Doctoral Research Associate, UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh; and Tori Togashi, Ph.D., Clinical Postdoctoral Fellow, UPMC Sports Medicine Concussion Program, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Pittsburgh.