45°
The Spanish-language program, titled 'Matter of Balance,' is evidence-based and designed to address the fear of falling and fall prevention for older adults. Classes are held at the Norwalk Senior Center South.
The program aims to increase activity levels among older adults, and to teach exercises to improve balance and muscle strength. Falls are more common than strokes and the most preventable cause of nursing home placement.
Fairfield University's School of Nursing students and faculty have taught the course all over the county for years, and the introduction of Spanish has opened it up to a whole new audience. The goal is to expand the Spanish classes to other local communities.
To create the Spanish-language version, the university formed a team of nursing students and Spanish interpreters from Fairfield's Department of Modern Languages and Literature to present the program.
The eight-session, two-hour a week course introduces ways to make your home safer against falls, complete with a safety checklist. Participants are also shown how to get up from a fall, good walking posture, and exercises to strengthen core body muscles.
A Spanish major and minor were certified as coaches by School of Nursing faculty to participate with nursing students enrolled in the Public Health Nursing course, in which academic study is linked with community service .
"My interest is for these talented students to realize the skills they have and put them to use beyond the walls of the classroom," said Michelle Farrell, assistant professor of Spanish and Portuguese, who coordinated the Norwalk classes with assistant professors of nursing Jessica Planas and Geraldine M. Chalykoff and professor of the practice Kathleen Lovanio.
"The two Spanish students working as coaches and interpreters make a huge impact on the experience both for the participants and us. The participants appreciate having young, energetic, friendly, competent Spanish speakers there," says nursing student Eric English.
Senior Cindy Cook, a Spanish and computer science double major, was nervous at first, but grew to love the experience so much that she plans to volunteer at the center after the program concludes.
"I think Spanish language students have made a huge difference," Cook said. "Spanish is such an important language that I would suggest to anyone to try to learn it."
For more information about similar programs at Fairfield, go online at www.fairfield.edu.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Norwalk and receive free news updates.
