BELLEVILLE — Every year, one in four older adults aged 65 and older experiences a fall, often leading to serious injuries and loss of independence. To help prevent these incidents, the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Green County, in partnership with SSM Health Monroe and Belleville Public Library, is offering a seven-week Stepping On Falls Prevention workshop beginning March 13.

Held every Thursday from 2-4 p.m. at the Belleville Public Library, this evidence-based program is designed to help older adults build confidence and reduce their risk of falling through learning about home safety hazards checks, medication reviews, vision issues, navigating the community, practical balance and strength exercises, and much more. Participants will hear from guest experts throughout the program — a physical therapist, vision expert, pharmacist, and community safety expert. All experts provide vital and relevant information within their expertise pertaining to falls prevention.

Participants will learn:

●  How to identify and remove fall hazards at home and outdoors

●  The impact of vision, hearing, medications, and footwear on fall risk

●  Strength and balance exercises tailored to individual needs

●  How to get up safely after a fall

●  And more

Research has shown that Stepping On can reduce falls by 31%, making it one of the most effective programs available for fall prevention.  

A suggested donation of $15 is requested, and pre-registration is required, as spots are limited. There are no residency restrictions — everyone is welcome. To register, call the ADRC Green County Office at 608-328-9499, or register online by scanning the QR Code. To see more of what Green County ADRC has to offer, visit www.adrcgreencounty.org.