Central Florida seniors gain confidence, connection through new healthy aging partnership

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — Older adults across Central Florida are finding new confidence and connection through a partnership between AdventHealth Well 65+ and the Senior Resource Alliance, designed to help seniors stay active, reduce their risk of falls and maintain independence as they age.

The partnership offers a variety of health and wellness workshops at AdventHealth Well 65+ practices, led by the Senior Resource Alliance. Among them is A Matter of Balance, an eight-session program designed to reduce fear of falling and encourage seniors to stay active. Classes are offered in English and Spanish and are free to participants.

For Barbara Breglia, a program participant, the experience has been life changing. She started attending A Matter of Balance classes after losing her husband. Following his death, Bregli's activity level dropped. She spent most of her time at home, and soon her balance began to decline. It was during a visit to AdventHealth Well 65+ that she learned about the workshop and thought it might offer the help she needed.

"The year before I took the balance classes I had fallen at the mall and broken my shoulder. I know I didn't want that to happen again," said Breglia. "Every little exercise I have learned is for some part of my body that has helped me stay on my feet and not be on that ground."

Bernadette Foxworth is new to A Matter of Balance, but she's already feeling the difference. After moving from Philadelphia to Florida, her daughter encouraged her to explore workshops offered by the Senior Resource Alliance at AdventHealth Well 65+ practices to help her stay active. Foxworth, who has struggled to stay steady on her feet, says the balance-focused sessions are giving her improved stability and a renewed sense of self-assurance.

"I fell a couple of times. I use a cane because, even though I want to put it down, I have to use it," said Foxworth. "But if I keep coming to these classes, I might put it down. I might get enough balance exercises to feel more confident when I'm walking."

The partnership between AdventHealth Well 65+ and the Senior Resource Alliance was born from evidence-based practices and feedback gathered through patient surveys. When Genevieve Baranuk-Delgado, director of support services at AdventHealth Well 65+, and her team identified a growing need, they reached out to the Senior Resource Alliance to explore a collaboration aimed at helping older adults reduce their risk of falls while forming social connections.

"We've heard from a lot of seniors that once they fall, they tend to stay home," said Irene De La Cruz, health and wellness program manager for the Senior Resource Alliance. "They want to stay in their comfort zone. We wanted to bring them out — not just to get together, which was part of it, but also to help them exercise and stay active."

The A Matter of Balance program goes beyond fall prevention. It aims to foster independence and confidence by first addressing the root cause of participants' fear of falling.

"The first hour of our A Matter of Balance class focuses on education. We start by teaching participants about their thoughts," said Naiomy Mendez, health and wellness facilitator for the Senior Resource Alliance. "Many people don't realize that falling often begins in the mind. Then, as a team, we work together to find solutions to overcome that fear. The second half of the class includes exercises designed to build confidence, strengthen bones and muscles and help prevent falls."

This partnership between AdventHealth Well 65+ and the Senior Resource Alliance underscores the commitment of AdventHealth Well 65+ to go beyond traditional health care by creating opportunities that help older adults truly feel whole.

A Matter of Balance is just one program available through this partnership. Other workshops focus on movement and balance for arthritis and fall prevention, while Living Healthy for Seniors supports those managing diabetes and chronic conditions.

AdventHealth Well 65+ patients and other older adults can learn more about the workshops available to them by contacting their local AdventHealth Well 65+ practice.

To learn more about AdventHealth Well 65+, visit Well65Plus.com.