Do you ever get out of bed and feel lightheaded or jump up to answer the phone and feel dizzy? Well you are not alone. More than one-third of seniors 65 years old or older fall each year from moving to quickly, tripping over hazards slipping on wet surfaces, and not having the proper rails and supports to safely maneuver stairs and other challenges. Falls are a leading cause of hospital admissions for seniors; each year over 1.6 million seniors are treated in the emergency room due to falls. Over 388,000 seniors were admitted to the hospital due to falls last year and more that 11,600 seniors die from fall related injuries each year. Falls are a leading cause of why seniors are admitted to nursing homes.

A new program being offered, “A Matter of Balance” looks to address this issue. A Matter of Balance not only leads seniors through a series of exercises to help them improve their balance it also teaches them techniques to avoid falling hazards. Rhonda Somers-Fletcher, a MOB Coach in St. Albans explains that going from being inactive such as watching television to being active like jumping up to answer a phone can be a dangerous combination. According to Somers-Fletcher “an inactive person might experience dizziness if they move to answer the phone or get up out of bed.” Somers-Fletcher teaches simple techniques like sitting on the edge of your bed for a moment before attempting to stand and then standing for a moment before attempting to walk as one way to avoid falls associated with dizziness from getting out of bed.

Stuart Newton, 90, decided to take this class having taken a few falls. According to Newton he “fell three years ago in Florida on the pavement, well did I hit and the shoulder is still not right." When asked why he took the class he said, “balance bothers me.”

Often times the fear of falling is enough to make seniors alter their lifestyle, decreasing their activities and decreasing their quality of life. This can lead to a self-fulfilling prophecy where seniors are worried about falling so they decrease their activity which decreases their muscle strength and makes them more likely to fall. A Matter of Balance addresses the fear of falling in this eight-week course meeting once a week.

Common everyday adjustments can help seniors reduce falls such as removing tripping hazards in their homes such as throw rugs, using non-slip mats in the bathtub, having grab bars next to the toilet and the tub, having handrails on both sides of the stairs, and improving lighting throughout the house.

For Helen Brann, 87, her three falls showed her that she needed to take action. One fall left her unconscious and turning purple. Grand remarks “I thought that was the end.” Now she is taking a Matter of Balance and Tufts Strong Living to improve her strength and balance to avoid future falls.

The volunteer coaches lead participants through a series of exercises practicing getting out of chairs, stretching, lifting one leg at a time using chairs for balance.

Mildred Laurie, 80, has an artificial hip, broke a femur, and has a frozen shoulder due to falls. Laurie knows that she has to take action to protect her. According to Laurie it is “not easy to get it back after a fall, whatever help I can get to keep me where I am I will do.”

Physical changes & medications can make seniors more prone to falls but a Matter of Balance can give you the tools to strengthen your muscles, gain better balance, and learn the tools and tips needed to decrease the risk of falls. As Laurie states we are all a “work in progress.”

For more information on a Matter of Balance class in your area or to find out how to become a volunteer coach call CVAA at 1-800-642-5119 or for classes in Chittenden County call Jamie Held at the YMCA at 862-9622 or Pam Farnham at 847-2278. A Matter of Balance is a joint venture of CVAA, FAHC, RSVP, and the YMCA.

Sarah Lemnah writes on senior issues for the Champlain Valley Agency on Aging. This article originally appeared in the Burlington Free Press.