Be a Leader!

You could be the one to make a difference in someone’s life.

Do you have personal experience dealing with falls or an ongoing chronic health condition? Or do you have life experience living with a family member who has fallen or is living with a chronic illness? If yes, the Arrowhead Area Agency on Aging is seeking volunteers or professionals to become leaders to teach Living Well with Chronic Conditions and Falls Prevention workshops. Leaders facilitate groups of people at risk of falls and with chronic conditions to help them manage their symptoms and build confidence to maintain an active lifestyle.

Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for Americans aged 65 and over. Every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall, and every 11 seconds an older adult is treated in an emergency room for a fall-related injury. The annual cost of falls is currently $31 billion and is projected to grow to $67.7 billion by 2020. Over two-thirds of Medicare beneficiaries have two or more chronic diseases, and at least 95% of health care costs for older Americans are for chronic diseases. Yet, less than 1% of health care dollars are spent on prevention.

Frequent falls and chronic diseases (such as diabetes, arthritis, hypertension, lung disease) can force seniors to give up their independence too soon. We deliver proven programs that empower individuals to manage their own care and improve their quality of life.

Trained leaders guide participants in finding practical ways to deal with chronic conditions and manage the pain, fatigue and depression that accompany the conditions. These evidence based workshops use a standardized, proven methodology to help people develop goals for reducing fears and risk of falling, improved nutrition and exercise, a better understanding of treatment options and improved communications with family and doctors about their health plans.

Facilitating workshops provides leaders with an opportunity to learn new skills, make a difference in someone’s life, meet new people, gain a sense of achievement, enhance their network and be a community leader. People interested in becoming a leader receive 16 to 32 hours of classroom training, depending on the workshop.

Local Agencies such as North Shore Area Partners in Silver Bay, and Community Partners in Two Harbors are at the forefront of delivering workshops to people who are committed to improving their health and maximizing their independence. If you are interested in either taking a workshop, or becoming a certified leader, contact Katey Fornear, Program Coordinator at 218-529-7531 or email kfornear@ardc.org