EnhanceFitness classes focus on reducing falls

When Zenaida Myers of Pasco

took her 87-year-old mother to a new fitness class, she wasn’t planning to participate.

But the 65-year-old said she

and her mom both have benefited from the balance and strengthening class called

EnhanceFitness.

She said her mother Maria

Austria of Kennewick fell three times last year, but thanks to the class, she’s

beginning to feel stronger.

Falls send thousands of senior citizens to the hospital every year, especially in Benton County, which has one of the highest rates of fall-related hospitalizations in the state.

From 2010-15, the county

recorded 1,897 per 100,000 people age 60 and older who were hospitalized after

a fall, according to the state Department of Health.

That’s why the EnhanceFitness classes are being offered for free to those 65 and older in Kennewick, Richland and Prosser, thanks to a state Department of Health grant administered through Southeast Washington Aging & Long Term Care Council of Government, or ALTC.

It’s part of a five-year statewide action plan

to reduce the

rate of falls-related hospitalizations by 5 percent and falls-related deaths by

3 percent among older adults.

EnhanceFitness classes also are

available in Pasco, but there’s a fee as they’re administered through the city

of Pasco.

The hourlong classes focus on increasing senior citizens’ strength and balance, which can help to prevent falls. The evidence-based falls prevention and physical activity program is developed specifically for older adults.

“We’re trying to implement

falls prevention and hopefully we can make an impact on some of the falls data

that is high for our area to reduce hospitalizations and death rates,” said Emily

Watts, program manager for ALTC.

The Yakima-based ALTC promotes and develops a

comprehensive system of services to help meet the needs of older adults and

adults with disabilities in an

eight-county area: Asotin, Benton, Columbia, Franklin, Garfield, Kittitas,

Walla Walla, and Yakima counties.

“Four of our counties fall

in top 10 for falls for over 65 and Benton County is one of them,” Watts said.

The three-day-a-week fitness

program welcomes those using walkers or canes. Cuff weights that strap onto

ankles or wrists are supplied and used during class.

A typical class includes a short warmup followed by 20 minutes of aerobics, a short cooldown, 20 minutes of strength training and ends with a 10-minute stretch.

Pat Hoinacki, 69, of West

Richland, recently completed training to be an EnhanceFitness instructor after

learning about it as an advisory board member of Southeast

Washington ALTC.

The program is a way for Hoinacki

to do what she does best: take care of people. She is a retired school and

hospice nurse.

“I just really like keeping people healthy; it’s just something I do,” she said. “It’s an opportunity at this point in my life – since I’ve aged out of hands-on nursing – to help people stay healthy. At my age level, I feel like I can set a good example. I really enjoy every day I’m there and I really enjoy fitness.”

She’s even recruited her

husband - who hasn’t been keen on a regular exercise routine - to take her class.

“It is a really good thing

for men and women. The program is aimed to address all fitness levels; it

welcomes the frail or the non-exerciser. They would be our ideal candidate,” Hoinacki

said.

Hoinacki said the class is

taught at two levels, seated or standing.

“Attendance is the most important

thing to be successful with strength and balance training,” Hoinacki said.

Myers said the class has helped her: “I feel like I have more energy now and am

able to move around better,” she said.

Austria said she appreciates

the social aspect of the class as well.

Maximum class enrollment is 25.

EnhanceFitness registration

To sign up for the free Kennewick

class, which runs from 11 a.m. to noon Monday, Wednesday

and Friday, call 509-554-4636 or email [email protected].

To sign up for the free Richland

class, which runs from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday

and Friday, call 509-438-9470 or email [email protected].

To sign up for the free Prosser class, which runs from 2 to 3 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, call 509-396-8276 or email [email protected].

To sign up for the Pasco class, which runs from 10 to 11

a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday, call 509-545-3459 or [email protected]. Cost is $33 for

Pasco residents, $41 for others.

More programs coming

More programs will be rolled

out in the next four years to reduce the rate of falls in the region.

Watts said Matter of

Balance, an

8-week structured group intervention that emphasizes practical strategies to

reduce fear of falling and increase activity levels, will be offered in the coming fiscal year.  

ALTC also will offer the Otago Exercise Program, a series of 17 strength

and balance exercises delivered by a physical therapist or a physical therapy

assistant in the home, outpatient or community setting. The program reduces

falls between 35 percent and 40 percent for frail older adults, according to

the state’s falls prevention plan.

Instructors sought

Watts said instructors are needed to offer more EnhanceFitness

classes, especially bilingual English-Spanish teachers. They receive a stipend

for their work.

“We want to implement more classes in Benton and Franklin

counties and especially implement a bilingual class. We’re looking for fitness

instructors or group exercise leadership to continue to grow the program,” she

said.

Interested trainers and group exercise leaders, may email résumés

to [email protected].