Poor balance and the fear of falling are primary reasons for declining mobility as a person ages. Mobility is an important factor in the quality of life. As balance worsens (increasing the risk of falling), it is more difficult to be mobile. Unfortunately, falling is the number one cause of hip fracture. Nearly 20% of all hip fractures in the elderly will result in death within the first year, and 50% of people will never regain their prior level of function. Physical therapy is a very viable and helpful resource in improving balance and mobility in order to maintain your independence. The key to helping someone improve balance is to understand why his/her balance is worsening in the first place. Determining the best intervention to address balance-related issues can be difficult and is typically multifactorial. Once the reason for the decline is determined, an effective treatment program can be designed by the physical therapist to address the issue. The following different body systems affect balance:Musculoskeletal System A person needs to have adequate strength and bone structure for mobility and balance.Somatosensory This system consists of all of the touch and nerve receptors in the muscles, tendons, and joints. A common problem affecting the somatosensory system is neuropathy. One very common form of neuropathy is from diabetes. Having numb feet makes it very difficult to balance!Eyesight We rely heavily on our eyesight for mobility and to know where we are located in our environment. Eyesight can be affected by eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts, or even if you wear poorly fitting eyewear. Your eyesight is not just about the acuity at which you see, but is also how the eyes move. Gaze stabilization is how well you can stabilize on a target in your field of vision.Vestibular System Our vestibular system is located in our inner ears. It provides us with information on head movement. It works to process information on the heads position in your environment. The vestibular system is one of the more adaptable systems, and with practice, it can be improved.Central Nervous System The brain is responsible for coordinating all of the information gathered by the body's other systems. Damage from trauma or conditions such as Parkinson's disease, or a stroke can also affect balance. Other factors such as medications and dehydration can also affect balance.Physical therapists work with individuals to help improve balance and positively affect ones mobility (and ultimately, his/her ability to function independently). Editors Note: This article was written by Ben Shatto, PT, DPT, OCS, Director of Therapy Services at MultiCare Home Health, and author of the website www.thePhysicalTherapyAdvisor.com

Legacy Corps is now available in southwest Idaho! Legacy Corps is an award-winning national service project that provides volunteer-powered caregiver support for veterans and military families. A growing and specialized need for caregiver support exists among veterans and military families. Research indicates that caregivers of veterans report more than twice the emotional stress of caregivers of adults nationally, almost three times the level of physical strain, and almost four times the level of financial hardship. Legacy Corps was launched by Friends in Action in 2012 to help address these caregiving needs. Legacy Corps programs operate in 15 cities across 10 states, and all Legacy Corps programs partner with the University of Maryland and the Corporation for National and Community Service to provide support services to many veteran and military families. Legacy Corps volunteers provide weekly, quality assistance to veteran/military families who care for a loved one at home. Volunteers serve as companions with the veteran being cared for so the family caregiver can have a weekly break; volunteers provide transportation and prepare light meals; and volunteers help connect families to other community support services, peer-to-peer support groups, and other related services. Volunteers are well-prepared as a result of 90 hours of pre-service and ongoing in-service trainings! Legacy Corps volunteers commit to 450 hours of service over a one year period, which means every volunteer serves 10-12 hours per week helping 3 to 4 families each. Legacy Corps volunteers become a close-knit team who make a huge difference in the lives of many, many families across the Treasure Valley. All volunteers must complete an application, agree to criminal and sex offender back ground checks, participate in a national research study and have mid-year and end-of- year evaluations. Legacy Corps volunteers receive many benefits from their service. In addition to life-changing experiences helping others, volunteers receive a monthly taxable stipend and are eligible to receive an Educational Award of nearly $1,500 when they complete their year of service. For volunteers age 55+, the education award can be given to a child or grandchild. The Educational Award may be used to attend classes at most colleges/universities or to repay qualified student loans. Legacy Corps volunteers assist many veteran and military families who care for a chronically ill or disabled adult at home. This service project helps family caregivers maintain their own health and well-being; it helps volunteers develop new skills and knowledge; and it fills a growing need in our communities. For further information about Legacy Corps, please contact Friends in Action (www.fiaboise.org) at 333-1363. Friends in Action Friends in Action is a unique volunteer-powered program serving family caregivers and those they care for. We are a program of the nonprofit Mountain States Group. Highly trained volunteers lead award-winning education programs; provide caregiver respite and support/ and assist with the annual southwest Idaho Family Caregiver Conference.

A Guardianship To Help Our Loved Ones All of us have family or friends who need assistance, whether financially, physically or, in the case of this article, mentally. In caring for our loved ones, it is important to know some legal guidelines to best serve them. When a person loses the ability to think clearly, it affects his or her ability to participate in meaningful decision-making. If that individual is unable to make rational, clear-headed decisions about health care, finances or other aspects of life, guardianship and/or conservatorship may be the next step if the person does not have power of attorney documents in place or if there is disagreement among family members about these issues. To appoint a guardian, a court must declare a person to be incapacitated based on findings where: A person who, due to his or her mental, physical and emotional status, prevents him or her from taking care of his/her own basic needs; and As a result, that person is in danger of substantial harm; and There is no one already legally authorized to make substitute decisions for the person. If the criteria are met, the court transfers the responsibility of determining living arrangements and medical decisions to the guardian and the responsibility for managing assets and finances to the conservator. Guardians and conservators have a duty to act in the best interest of the incapacitated person and in the least restrictive manner. Regular reports must be submitted to the court regarding the status of the incapacitated person and his or her finances and assets. Guardians - A guardianship is a legal right and duty given to a person to be responsible for managing the food, health care, housing, and other necessities of a person deemed fully or partially incapable of managing these necessities for him or herself. Conservators - A conservatorship is a legal right and duty given to a person to be responsible for managing the assets and finances of a person deemed fully or partially incapable of managing them for him or herself. Keep in mind it is possible to avoid the necessity of a guardianship and/or conservatorship through a good estate plan that includes both a medical power of attorney and a general durable power of attorney which permit trusted individuals to make health care decisions and manage financial affairs in the event of incapacity. This article was written by Donna A. Schuyler, Attorney, who practices in the areas of estate planning, elder law, guardianship and probate. Donna Schuyler Law, PLLC; elderlawboise.com; Phone 208-344-1947

Capitalize on a lifetime of learning If you are a life-long student still hoping to complete that dream of a bachelors degree, consider the Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies at Boise State University. This degree is designed to help adults successfully complete a degree while balancing life with school. Whether its to show your children or grandchildren that its never too late to seek out education or something that you want to check off your bucket list, we can help you get there. Our students average age is 42 years old, with our youngest students in their mid to late twenties to our most senior student at age 82, who is graduating this semester! If you prefer a completely online option, consider the Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies online degree. The Multidisciplinary Studies degree is designed for students with 58 or more college credits and at least five years of work/life experience. An individual customized degree completion plan is created by the student and approval is granted for course selections designed around personal and professional goals. Many of our students did not take the traditional four year plan through school opting for more of a scenic route through education and are now ready to get that diploma. With a little more time on their hands and the handsome fee waiver for Idaho residents that dream can become a reality. Idaho residents who are at least 60 years old may register for courses and pay $5 per credit hour, a $20 registration fee (per semester), and any special fees (such as for private music lessons, workshops, or laboratory fees). Give us a call and lets see how we can help you finish that dream of completing your Bachelors Degree, its just a phone call away! For more information, please contact mds@boisestate.edu or call 426-3721 and speak with Vicki Budd, Program Director, Alexis, or Rebecca for more detailed information visit our website at http//sspa.boisestate.edu/mds. Editors Note: This article was written by Vicki Budd, Program Director for the Bachelor of Arts in Multidisciplinary Studies. Visit http//sspa.boisestate.edu/mds for more information.