This ongoing exercise class helps you increase strength, balance and fitness and incorporate active movement into your everyday life.
About the class
This twenty-four session class meets either twice or three times a week for one hour. This class is designed to reduce the risk of falling for participants. You’ll learn how to perform exercises that improve strength, balance and fitness. This class can accommodate mobility difficulty as exercises can be done seated or standing.
Stay Active and Independent for Life® is an evidence-based program developed in Washington state with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Benefits of the class
- Become stronger, have better balance, and feel better
- Stay active, independent, and prevent falls
- Learn from experienced instructors who teach exercises that have been tested with older adults
- Make new friends
- Provide support and encouragement to your peers
Who should take the class
This class is for any adult with a fear or history of falling. It is particularly suited for people who:
- Want to improve strength and mobility
- Are looking for a class that provides structure and accountability
- Want ongoing opportunities for social connection.
This ongoing exercise class helps you increase strength, balance and fitness and incorporate active movement into your everyday life.
About the class
This twenty-four session class meetings either twice or three times a week for one hour. This class is designed to reduce the risk of falling for participants. You’ll learn how to perform exercises that improve strength, balance and fitness. This class can accommodate mobility difficulty as exercises can be done seated or standing.
Stay Active and Independent for Life ® is an evidence-based program developed in Washington state with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Benefits of the class
- Become stronger, have better balance, and feel better
- Stay active, independent, and prevent falls
- Learn from experienced instructors who teach exercises that have been tested with older adults
- Make new friends
- Provide support and encouragement to your peers
Who should take the class
This class is for any adult with a fear or history of falling. It is particularly suited for people who:
- Want to improve strength and mobility
- Are looking for a class that provides structure and accountability
- Want ongoing opportunities for social connection.
This ongoing exercise class helps you increase strength, balance and fitness and incorporate active movement into your everyday life.
About the class
This twenty-four session class meets either twice or three times a week for one hour. This class is designed to reduce the risk of falling for participants. You’ll learn how to perform exercises that improve strength, balance and fitness. This class can accommodate mobility difficulty as exercises can be done seated or standing.
Stay Active and Independent for Life® is an evidence-based program developed in Washington state with support from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Benefits of the class
- Become stronger, have better balance, and feel better
- Stay active, independent, and prevent falls
- Learn from experienced instructors who teach exercises that have been tested with older adults
- Make new friends
- Provide support and encouragement to your peers
Who should take the class
This class is for any adult with a fear or history of falling. It is particularly suited for people who:
- Want to improve strength and mobility
- Are looking for a class that provides structure and accountability
- Want ongoing opportunities for social connection.
Increase your self-confidence and self-control to reduce your risk of falling in this class with information, discussion and group support.
About the class
This seven-week class meets once a week for two hours. This class helps participants learn strategies to reduce falls and increase strength. For this class, exercises are introduced in week one and then practiced throughout the remaining six weeks. Participants use weights to improve strength and balance throughout the program. The program also includes a follow-up home visit and a three-month “booster session” to review achievements and sustain efforts. You’ll learn:
- Simple and fun balance and strength exercises
- The role of vision in keeping your balance
- How medications can contribute to falls
- Ways to keep from falling when out in your community
- How to eliminate fall hazards from your home
Stepping On® is an evidence-based program developed at the University of Sydney, Australia, and adapted for U.S. audiences at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Benefits of the class
- Reduce fall and increase self-confidence
- Learn strategies for increasing strength
- Meet new friends
- Provide support and encouragement to your peers
- Become more involved in your community and with your neighbors
Who should take the class
- Has a fear of or are at risk of falling
- Is an older adult
- Lives independently
- Does not use a walker indoors (cane OK)
- Does not need a wheelchair
- Is without a diagnosed cognitive impairment
Learn practical strategies for reducing your fear of falling, changing your environment to reduce risks and increasing your activity level to prevent falls in this group discussion class.
About the class
This class meets either once a week for eight weeks, or twice a week for four weeks, for two hours. This class is more conversation-based than exercise-based. You’ll learn to:
- View falls and fear of falling as controllable
- Set realistic goals for increasing activity
- Change their environments to reduce risk factors
- Use exercise to increase strength and balance
A Matter of Balance was created with support from the National Institute on Aging. A Matter of Balance Lay Leader Model was developed by a grant from the Administration on Aging (#90AM2780) ©All rights reserved, MaineHealth’s Partnership for Healthy Aging.
Benefits of the class
- Feel comfortable increasing activity and continuing exercising
- Feel more comfortable talking about fear of falling
- Meet new friends
- Provide support and encouragement to your peers
- Become more involved in your community and with your neighbors
Who should take the class
This class is for any adult who fears falling. It is particularly suited for people who:
- Are concerned about falls
- Have had a fall in the past
- Restrict activities because of concerns about falling
- Want to improve flexibility, balance and strength
An advanced version of the Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance class, this class deepens the practice of tai ji quan.
About the class
Participants must complete the Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance® beginner class before registering for this class. The twelve-week class meets two or three times a week for one hour and builds on the knowledge and experience participants have gained from the beginner class. The emphasis is on providing participants an enhanced experience with additional challenges using the 8 tai ji quan forms, Mini-therapeutic Movements® and variations to further develop strength, flexibility, balance and postural control.
Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance® is an evidence-based fall prevention
program developed by Fuzhong Li, Ph.D., Senior Scientist at the Oregon Research Institute.
Benefits of the class
- Build strength and increase postural control and range of motion
- Increase awareness of body positioning
- Control your center of gravity to prevent falls
- Maintain functional capabilities that will help you remain independent
- Make rewarding social connections
Who should take the class
This class is for those wishing to continue with their practice of tai ji quan movements beyond the beginning class. It is particularly suited for people who:
- Want to improve strength and mobility
- Have had a history of falls or are concerned about falls
- Have an abnormal gait or difficulty walking
- Have Parkinson’s Disease
A group exercise class for people with arthritis who want to learn safe ways to stay active, reduce pain and move more easily.
About the class
This 24-session class meets twice or three times a week for one hour. This class is a community-based, low impact, recreational exercise program. You’ll:
- Practice stretching, breathing, and balance
- Control body pain
- Learn techniques for boosting energy and mood
- Learn ways to keep from falling when out in your community
- Increase confidence about staying active and managing arthritis
Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program® is an evidence-based program developed by the Arthritis Foundation in partnership with a multidisciplinary team. Also known as People with Arthritis Can Exercise (PACE).
Benefits of the class
- Experience less pain
- Improve joint function and increase muscular strength
- Increase overall sense of well-being and improve quality of life
- Provide support and encouragement to your peers
- Become more involved in your community and with your neighbors
Who should take the class
This class is for anyone living with an arthritis diagnosis who is interested in becoming more physically active. It is particularly suited for people who:
- Have a diagnosis of rheumatoid or osteoarthritis
- Suffer from stiffness, fatigue, or arthritis pain
- Could benefit from increased physical activity
- Feel isolated, lonely, or depressed
Learn non-narcotic methods for managing chronic pain and get on with your life.
About the class
This six-week class meets once a week for two hours and thirty minutes. Each class includes a new topic on how to manage chronic pain. This class is a combination of presentations, discussion, and activities with others who have similar experiences to you. You will learn:
- Techniques to deal with frustration, fatigue, isolation, and poor sleep
- Appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength
- Appropriate use of medications
- Communicating effectively with family, friends, and health professionals, nutrition, pacing activity and rest
- How to evaluate new treatments
Living Well With Chronic Conditions, also known as Chronic Pain Self-Management Program® is an evidence-based program developed by Stanford University and is managed by the Self-Management Resource Center.
Benefits of the class
- Learn how to make feeling good your top priority
- Discover strategies for managing your pain
- Learn how to make weekly action plans
- Share experiences with others and help each other problem solve
- Become more involved in your community with your neighbors
Who should take the class
This class is for anyone with a chronic pain diagnosis who want to improve their health and quality of life through managing their chronic pain. It is particularly suited for people who have:
- Have a primary or secondary diagnosis of chronic pain
- Experience chronic neck, shoulder, or back pain; fibromyalgia; whiplash injuries; repetitive strain injury; post-surgical pain that lasts beyond 6 months; neuropathic pain (often caused by trauma); or neuralgias (such as post-herpetic pain, and trigeminal neuralgia)
- May also be helpful for those who experience persistent headache, Crohn’s disease, irritable bowel syndrome, diabetic neuropathy, or those who experience severe muscular pain due to conditions such as multiple sclerosis.
Learn safe, relaxing and enjoyable ways to make walking part of your everyday life. You’ll start walking and stay active. Develop and sustain a personal plan to make walking a daily part of your life.
About the class
This six-week class meets three times a week for forty-five minutes to one hour. The class combines self-paced walks with discussions or information about health-related topics. You’ll:
- Motivate yourself to get in great shape
- Walk safely and comfortably
- Improve your flexibility, strength and stamina
- Reduce pain and feel great
Walk With Ease® is an evidence-based program developed by the Arthritis Foundation in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Benefits of the class
- Reduce join pain
- Feel great while getting in shape
- Learn how to walk safely, comfortably and at your own pace
- Meet new friends
- Become more involved in your community and with your neighbors
Who should take the class
This class is for anyone with arthritis or who want to get more physical activity. It is particularly suited for people who:
- Are an adult with arthritis, or other ongoing health issues
- Can be on their feet for ten minutes without increased pain
- Have shoes that are safe for walking
- Want to improve their confidence in their ability to manage symptoms
- Want to improve balance, strength, and walking pace
Learn to manage your Type 2 Diabetes, develop strategies for living well and connect with others who will support your journey.
About the class
This six-week class meets once a week for two hours and thirty minutes. Each class includes a new topic on how to help participants with pre-diabetes manage their health. This class is a combination of presentations, discussion, and activities with others who have similar experiences to you. You will learn:
- Techniques to deal with symptoms of diabetes, including fatigue, pain, hyper/hypoglycemia, stress, depression, anger, fear and frustration
- Appropriate exercise for maintaining and improving strength and endurance
- Healthy eating
- Use of medication
- How to better work with healthcare providers
A telephone version of the class is also available. This class is also offered in Spanish.
Living Well With Diabetes, also known as Diabetes Self-Management Program® is an evidence-based program developed by Stanford University and is managed by the Self-Management Resource Center. The program is supported by the American Diabetes Association.
Benefits of the class
- Reduce the risk of medical complications
- Improve your health and sense of well-being
- Learn how to make weekly action plans
- Share experiences with others and help each other problem solve
- Become more involved in your community with your neighbors
Who should take the class
This class is for anyone with a diagnosis of pre-diabetes, or diabetes, and would like to learn tips for a healthy lifestyle. It is particularly suited for people who:
- Are newly diagnosed with diabetes
- Have poor blood sugar control
- Have greater than 7 percent A1c
- Have experienced recent complications that required hospital or emergency room treatment