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A Matter of Balance Program Overview

Gina Taylor, MS, OTR/L, HPCS

November 14, 2012

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Question

What is A Matter of Balance Program?  How do you become a Master Trainer? How can I integrate it into my occupational therapy practice?

Answer

Overview

What is A Matter of Balance?

Many people are afraid of falling, especially older adults, which can limit their participation in daily activities.  A Matter of Balance program consists of 8- 2 hour sessions in a small group setting.  It is led by a trained facilitator.  

During the class, participants learn to:

  • View falls as controllable
  • Set goals for increasing activity
  • Make changes to reduce fall risk at home
  • Exercise to increase strength and balance

Who should attend A Matter of Balance?

The program was designed to benefit community-dwelling older adults who:

  • Are concerned about falls
  • Have sustained falls in the past
  • Restrict activities because of concerns about falling
  • Are interested in improving flexibility, balance and strength
  • Are age 60 or older, ambulatory and able to problem solve

How do you become a Master Trainer?

 

Partnership for Healthy Aging

https://www.mainehealth.org/images/mmc_media/title_line.gif

A Matter of Balance Lay Leader Model Master Trainer Session Information

Master Trainer sessions are offered by MaineHealth's Partnership for Healthy Aging. The Master Trainer session will provide you with information and materials to implement A Matter of Balance in your community. As a result of the training, you will become a Master Trainer prepared to: 

  • Recruit and train volunteers to lead A Matter of Balance classes
  • Coordinate the program in your community
  • Market the program to older adults
  • Evaluate outcomes ?


Master Trainer Session Schedule 2013
Space is limited. Please call  207-661-7120 to check availability.
 
February 12 and 13, 2013
Phoenix, Arizona
Registration Deadline: January 12, 2013
Download the Registration Form

May 1 and 2, 2013
Portland, Maine
Registration Deadline: March 29, 2013
Download the Registration Form


The fee for the Master Trainer session is $1,500 per person.  This includes:

  • Two-day training
  • License to train lay leaders
  • Comprehensive curriculum materials
  • Master Trainer Manual (view Table of Contents)
  • Master Trainer CD-ROM (contains contents of manual)Two DVDs: "Fear of Falling" and "Exercise: It's Never Too Late" 


Group training by request

Partnership for Healthy Aging can also send a team of two Lead Trainers to your site to train a group of 11-20 people to become Master Trainers. The fees are based upon the size of the group as follows:

11-15 participants: $16,000*  plus $220 per person for materials
16-20 participants: $18,500*  plus $220 per person for materials

* Travel, meals and lodging for the two Lead Trainers will be charged at cost.


If you are interested in attending a Master Trainer session or hosting a group on site, please call Partnership for Healthy Aging at  207-661-7120 or email [email protected].

 

How can I integrate it into my Occupational Therapy practice?

Integrating it into your practice can be done in a variety of ways depending on what type of setting you are working in:  Acute; rehab; outpatient, etc..  It provides an excellent way to provide community service to the aging community, churches, and other community settings or health care settings such as assisted living; continual care retirement communities, council on aging, senior centers, support groups (MS, CVA, etc.).  As a master trainer you can train other OT practitioners or health care professionals and offer MOB classes at your own setting as a community setting or offer the course to your former patients once they join a support group such as a CVA support group.  As a volunteer layleader, you have the opportunity to teach the class within your setting or community.  It may require your setting to be willing to let you off work to provide this community service since most older adults prefer day rather than night classes.

 

 

To find out more information on the program, please go to the website listed below.

Excerpts above taken from A Matter of Balance website.  

https://www.mainehealth.org/mh_body.cfm?id=432

Continued and its subsidiaries provide professional education authored by qualified Subject Matter Experts for continuing education purposes. These materials are intended for educational purposes and do not constitute medical advice or a substitute for individual clinical judgment. Continued is not a clinical healthcare provider; the licensed professional is solely responsible for ensuring that the application of any techniques or information presented is within their legal scope of practice and jurisdictional requirements.

gina taylor

Gina Taylor, MS, OTR/L, HPCS

Gina Taylor, MS, OTR/L, is an occupational therapist with over 18 years of experience in pediatric, family-centered, and community-based practice. Her work focuses on sensory regulation, daily routines, habit formation, and supporting meaningful participation across environments. Gina has extensive experience teaching OT and OTA students and clinicians, with a strong emphasis on emerging areas of practice and real-world application of OT skills. Her current professional interests include the emerging intersection of occupational therapy, mental health, and psychedelic-assisted therapy, with a focus on preparation, sensory integration, environmental support, and post-experience integration within the OT scope. Gina brings a grounded, practical lens to complex topics, helping clinicians understand how core OT skills translate into emerging areas of practice.

 

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