Education

Presentation
Offer a presentation at your local seniors lodge, seniors association or health centre. There is a generic Finding Balance PowerPoint presentation that can be downloaded here. This interactive one-hour presentation provides an overview of seniors’ falls and prevention strategies. The PowerPoint file contains speaker notes. An evaluation form is also available.

Article in Local Paper
You can contact your local newspaper and provide an article or column about seniors’ falls prevention that they can print during November. You can use one of the pre-written articles in the Tool Kit or customize an article that offers a local perspective or information about your activities. You can also send an article to newsletters or bulletins at workplaces or seniors’ centres.

Letter to the Editor
Letters to the editor of newspapers are an excellent way to generate interest in an issue and educate the public. If you are aware of an incident or read a news story that involves a senior falling, you can send a letter to the editor which provides simple prevention tips.

Demo Day
Try organizing a Demo Day or series of Demo Days where you demonstrate a wide variety of strategies and tools related to seniors’ falls. Consider the following: exercises for strength and balance; how to get up from a fall; how to help others get up from a fall; how to choose footwear; how to choose a walking aid; how to select products they can use to make their homes safer. With a little creativity, these topics can be made fun and enjoyable with lively demonstrations.

Handouts
Distribute Finding Balance Brochures, crossword puzzles and word searches and other handouts as part of your event to increase the effectiveness of learning that falls are preventable. You can order finding Balance brochures, posters and bookmarks online using our electronic order form.