Jan 26, 2016
On January 12, 2016 I heard from the Arkansas Area Agency on Aging. Below are some excerpts:
“We have launched Move with Balance statewide.
Our seniors love this class. We have one center that had to run sessions classes per week because they had 75 people coming to class and that was too many to work with at one time. We currently have Move with Balance being offered in all 8 of our AAA regions and in 90 senior centers to date.” (Photo from the Arkansas training.)
Jan 9, 2016
Judd wrote to us as he ordered more books for the Move With Balance program in Arkansas:
“Also I just wanted to let you know how many compliments we are getting from your program. I personally lead a MWB group for over a year and have seen the progression with the Seniors I worked with. I just trained 8 more leaders yesterday. We have 6 classes going now throughout the White RiverRegion of Arkansas and are expecting to have 6 more going before the end of January. Thank you again!
Jan 8, 2016
In October 2015 we brought Move With Balance® with music to Touchmark, a CCRC in Bend, OR. The Life Enrichment Assistant had this to say about our visit:“Overall the residents really enjoyed this workshop. Many were disappointed that some of their friends did not attend. There were around 40+ people and I think due to the design of the class we would have needed a bigger room if there were more. I feel there was something for everyone-it was different, challenging, fun, and inspired community. We had a full variety of residents present including: independents, assisted living, and memory care. All enjoyed and all can truly benefit from this type of program. However, I think the ones that enjoyed the most and is Memory Care as it was quite therapeutic at the end.
Full Group involved with Move With Balance Activity and Music
Dec 4, 2015
Member Spotlight
Move with Balance
Paia, Hawaii
Karen Peterson founded Move with Balance, an exercise program designed to help prevent falls and falls-related injuries in seniors in 2005. Upon receiving a grant from Alzheimer’s Foundation of America, Peterson set about creating a version of Move with Balance designed specifically for individuals with Alzheimer’s disease.
For this program, Move with Balance teamed with Maui Adult Day Care, to recruit 10 seniors who have Alzheimer’s or a related dementia and also recruited 10 loving and compassionate fit seniors to serve as their mentors. Each class begins with a 10-minute icebreaker. Mentees arrive and sit at a coloring table with their mentors participating in activities such as writing with both hands at the same time. This gives mentees a chance to connect with their mentors before heading into the classroom setting for the main program.
The mentees feel safe with their mentors and have formed warm and caring relationships. Many recognize their mentors week after week.
Nov 28, 2015
Training for Caregivers and Group Leaders on Kauai’i, Hawai’i
On November 19 and 20, Karen Peterson, founder of Move With Balance®, and Bill Fuller, musician and songwriter, led a training for Professional and Family Caregivers and Group Leaders on Kauai’i. Karen and Bill recently completed very successful Move With Balance® with Music for Alzheimer’s/Dementia program on Maui. They have integrated original music into the entire Move With Balance® program.
WOW!
On November 27, one week after the training on kauai, physical therapist, Noreen S. wrote to us about her experience of using Move With Balance® Clock Face with two of her clients.
“Aloha Karen,
I wanted to thank you for coming over to Kauai and sharing your excellent program with us. I have used the clock face with a number of clients I have been seeing and wanted to report back.
1. A 76 y/o woman, with cognitive deficits, not using her R arm from humeral fx (back in May 2015) happily used the clock and started patting the top and back of her head with no complaints of pain.
2. A 57 y/o with brainstem infarcts- I started his session with the clock to get his attention switch activated. His attention had been about 30 seconds for activity. Following the clock exercise his impulsivity decreased and was able to attend for a few minutes for motor activities. Big change.
Thanks so much for all your efforts in developing “Move with Balance”.
Noreen”
