One of Five Falls Leads to a Serious Injury and the Average Cost of a Fall is Upward of $30,000

West Chester, PA – Registration is now open for Matter of Balance, a new program at five YMCA of Greater Brandywine locations. Matter of Balance is an evidence-based program designed to help teach practical skills in fall prevention including exercises to improve strength and balance.

“The statistics around falls are terrifying,” shares Laura Schofield-Pierson, who is helping to lead the implementation of this program. “As someone with aging parents who are still struggling with the aftermath of a fall, I know all too well how much one fall can impact an entire family.”

In older adults, one of out of every five falls causes a serious injury and falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries. Not only do they have a potentially devastating impact on health, but they also come with a steep price tag – with the average cost of per fall at more than $30 thousand dollars per person.

A Matter of Balance is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase the activity level of older adults who have this concern. The eight-session program meets weekly, and instructors cover how to set goals for increasing activity, make changes to reduce fall risks at home and how to increase strength and balance, all with a larger goal of viewing falls as controllable. Each class meets for two hours.

The program is recommended by the National Council on Aging and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Registration opens in October 2022 for a new program held at five YMCA of Greater Brandywine locations and typical participants are aged 65 and older, but registration is not limited to a specific age. 

The YMCA is dedicated to encouraging people of all ages and activity levels to improve their overall health and to providing a supportive community for individuals to pursue a healthier version of themselves. 

A Matter of Balance joins a variety of health management and disease prevention programming at the YMCA including LIVESTRONG at the YMCA, Parkinson’s Cycle, Enhance and Functional Fitness classes, classes and programs for adaptive abilities, water aerobics and low impact exercise classes and more. 

To learn more, visit the YMCA of Greater Brandywine website at ymcagbw.org and select the health management and disease prevention program option from the menu.