SAN DIEGO, Sept. 16, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Silver&Fit Exercise and Healthy Aging Program for Medicare Advantage members has expanded its range of Silver&Fit no-cost or low-cost class offerings to include the popular A Matter of Balance fall prevention program.
A Matter of Balance classes will be available to Silver&Fit members at a number of participating Silver&Fit fitness facilities. The class is designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels among older adults. It includes eight two-hour sessions and teaches participants to:
- View falls and fear of falling as controllable
- Set realistic goals for increasing activity
- Make changes to reduce fall risk at home
- Exercise to increase strength and balance
"Falls are the most common cause of injury to older adults, so we are pleased to add this evidence-based program to help our members learn how to prevent a serious fall," said Silver&Fit's Fitness Network Management Vice President Brett Hanson.
Instructors for A Matter of Balance must complete a two-day training program and sign a license agreement with MaineHealth. Silver&Fit instructors who are seeking training opportunities for A Matter of Balance fitness classes can visit http://www.mainehealth.org/MOB or call A Matter of Balance at 207-661-7120.
A Matter of Balance is an award-winning program based upon research conducted by the Roybal Center for Enhancement of Late-Life Function at Boston University. In October 2003, the Administration on Aging provided funding to translate A Matter of Balance into a program that uses volunteer lay leaders as facilitators, instead of health care professionals, and to establish A Matter of Balance as an innovative national model for addressing fall prevention. In a survey of participants, 97 percent of respondents reported that they felt comfortable increasing activity levels, and 99 percent planned to continue exercising.
About the Silver&Fit Exercise & Healthy Aging Program
The Silver&Fit program is an exercise and healthy aging program providing unique, evidence-based fitness and health education activities for Medicare beneficiaries and group retirees. As part of the Silver&Fit program, members have access to: no-cost or low-cost memberships at a participating, contracted fitness club or exercise center, or to the Silver&Fit Home Fitness Program for those unable to participate at a fitness facility or who prefer to work out at home; SilverandFit.com, a website with a variety of health tools and resources specifically designed for older adults; The Silver Slate®, a quarterly newsletter; and a toll-free customer service hotline. Follow Silver&Fit on Twitter @SilverandFit, Instagram @SilverandFit, YouTube at www.youtube.com/silverandfit, and Facebook at www.facebook.com/SilverandFit. The Silver&Fit program is a product of American Specialty Health Fitness, Inc., a subsidiary of American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH).
About American Specialty Health
American Specialty Health Incorporated (ASH) is one of the nation's premier independent, privately-owned specialty health services organizations, providing specialty health care networks and programs, fitness and exercise programs, and population health solutions for health plans, insurance carriers and employer groups. Operating from offices in San Diego, CA, Southlake (Dallas), TX, Carmel (Indianapolis), IN and Columbia, SC, ASH has more than 1,100 employees and administers services for more than 34 million members nationwide. Products offered through ASH and its subsidiaries include Healthyroads®, FitnessCoach™, Active&Fit®, ExerciseRewards™ and others. For more information about ASH, visit http://www.ashcompanies.com/ or call 800-848-3555. Follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter at @ASHCompanies.