Dr. Ruth Ford, Associate Professor of Occupational Therapy, was recently certified as a master trainer for “A Matter of Balance,” a fall prevention program offered through Maine’s Health Partnership for Healthy Aging and the Tennessee Department of Public Health. As a master trainer, Dr. Ford can provide the two-day coach’s training, as well as an eight-week participant workshop for older adults. “A Matter of Balance” offers fall prevention strategies, exercise programs, assertiveness training, identification of personal habits that may lead to falls and home and community environmental assessments. This program is designed to empower older adults to be proactive in preventing falls. Dr. Ford intends to incorporate Occupational Therapy student learning activities, community outreach research and residency placements to expose the students to community-based programs that support healthy aging.
