Matter of Balance

Description

Falls are the leading cause of emergency ambulance dispatches for Coast Life Support District, one of Mendonoma Health Alliance’s Founding Partners. According to the Centers for Disease Control, falls are the leading cause of non-fatal hospitalizations in the United States. As individuals begin to age into their 60s, many older adults begin experiencing a fear of falling. People who develop this fear often limit their activities, which can result in physical weakness, making the risk of falling even greater. A Matter of Balance is a program designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels among older adults. This is an 8-week class for residents over the age of 60. Each class is two hours and is designed to accommodate 8-12 participants. The class is taught by Mendonoma Health Alliance staff and volunteers who have all been trained to facilitate the program. A Matter of Balance is provided by Mendonoma Health at least twice per year and rotates between locations within the Mendonoma Service AreaA Matter of Balance is an award-winning evidence-based program developed by the Roybal Center at Boston University.
This free program will benefit adults who are concerned about falls, have sustained a fall in the past and/or restricted activities because of concerns about falling. Participants should be ambulatory, able to problem solve and actively participant in classroom discussion, and interested in increasing their activity level. At the conclusion of the class, each participant will have learned how to set realistic goals for increasing physical activity and have the necessary knowledge to make changes to their environment to reduce fall risk factors.
To send an inquiry or to register for an upcoming class, please click on the class Registration & Inquiries link below.

Upcoming Courses

Pre-Register for our upcoming September class

Flyer titled “Improve Your Strength & Balance” promoting the “A Matter of Balance” program (managing concerns about falls). It announces a start in September 2026 with more details to follow. Bullet points highlight outcomes: up to 97% feel more confident preventing falls, 90% report reduced fear of falling, and 50–60% increase activity levels. Eligibility: must be 60 years or older; registration required. Contact information: call (707) 412-3176 x102 or email info@mendonomahahealth.org . Sponsored by Mendonoma Health Alliance.

Matter of Balance Graduates

Class of 2026

A group of about ten older adults and one middle-aged adult stand and sit together outside a light-gray building on a sunny day. Most are smiling and facing the camera. One person sits in front while the others stand behind in a line. They wear casual clothing in a variety of colors, including blue, green, and maroon. The building has windows and a covered entryway, and trees and a clear blue sky are visible in the background.

This website and Mendonoma Health Alliance’s programs are partially supported by the California Department of Public Health as part of a grant award through the Substance and Addiction Prevention Branch totaling $1,281,000 over a 3-year period that began on March 1, 2024. Other funding sources that support this website include funding from Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital’s Community Benefit Program and generous donations from the community. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement by, CA Department of Public Health. 

2026 © Mendonoma Health Alliance

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