Dubois County offers free fall-prevention classes for older adults

Falls are the leading cause of emergency room visits in Dubois County, and county health officials are trying to get ahead of them before they send another older adult to the hospital. The Dubois County Health Department has teamed with Generations, Area 13 Agency on Aging, to offer A Matter of Balance at no cost to local older adults.

The eight-week course runs June 2 through July 21, 2026, meeting every Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at the Dubois County Health Department, 1187 South Saint Charles Street in Jasper. Registration is required by May 26.

The class is aimed at older adults who worry about falling, have already cut back on walking or other activities because of that fear, or want practical steps to stay steady and independent. A Matter of Balance is an evidence-based program developed in the 1990s at Boston University’s Roybal Center to reduce fear of falling and improve activity levels among community-dwelling older adults. It is typically taught in small groups of about 8 to 12 participants across eight two-hour sessions.

Participants will learn how to address common fears about falling, identify daily habits that increase risk, practice exercises that improve balance and flexibility, and make simple changes at home to reduce hazards. That matters in a county where one in four older Americans experiences a fall each year, a statistic that translates into real injuries, lost independence and avoidable emergency room visits.

Shawn Werner, the administrative director for the health department, said falls do not have to be part of aging and described the program as a way to give participants tools, strategies and confidence to stay active and independent. The county health department’s fall-prevention page describes the course as an eight-week class focused on making small changes to prevent falls, fitting with the department’s broader mission of prevention, health education and networking with other organizations.

Generations, also known as Area 13 Agency on Aging, is helping bring the class to Jasper. Residents looking for additional fall-prevention information can also contact Generations’ Aging and Disability Resource Center at 1-800-986-3505. The effort comes alongside other county fall-prevention outreach, including a separate free CDC STEADI initiative for older adults and caregivers, underscoring that keeping people on their feet is a standing public-health priority in Dubois County.