SMITH CENTER, Kan. –Smith County Memorial Hospital will offer Stepping On classes this fall.
“This is an excellent opportunity to prepare for the winter months and practice techniques to help combat icy or wet walking conditions,” said Laura Kingsbury, emergency department supervisor and director of the program.
Kingsbury has partnered with SCMH’s rehab services department to provide the free, seven-week course on fall prevention for older adults. Participants will learn strength and balance exercises, ways to improve movement at home, advice for traveling and more.
“Our participants find they have increased confidence in getting around,” said Alisa Pahls, SCMH’s occupational therapist. “We love to see when a tip or technique resonates with someone and an activity they had been discouraged or frustrated by in the past becomes easier. This training reopens doors for people.”
The workshop is broken into seven two-hour sessions held once a week. The course begins on Sept. 12 and participants will have their final session on Oct. 24.
“Each session we build on something the group covered before,” Kingsbury said. “We often find that as participates learn and try things in class, they have more questions or want to talk through scenarios in the next session. Together we try and test the information with real-life situations.”
The classes will be held at the Nazarene Church at 117 E New York St. in Smith Center. To register for the class, contact Deb Silsby at 9785) 686-3120 or visit the hospital’s rehab services department.