{"id":159507,"date":"2026-05-11T17:30:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-11T22:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/milwaukeenns.org\/?p=159507"},"modified":"2026-05-11T17:15:25","modified_gmt":"2026-05-11T22:15:25","slug":"wisconsin-fall-prevention-older-adults-tips-safe-balance-aging","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/milwaukeenns.org\/2026\/05\/11\/wisconsin-fall-prevention-older-adults-tips-safe-balance-aging\/","title":{"rendered":"How to maintain balance as you age \u2014\u00a0and prevent dangerous falls","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Falls are the leading cause of injury death for people over 65 years old across the country, and more than 1,800 older Wisconsinites died from them in 2024, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But fall injuries don\u2019t have to be so common.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Wisconsin Watch talked with local experts and attended three Madison-area classes designed to improve balance and prevent fall injuries: Stepping On, Parkour for Seniors and Ballroom Basics for Balance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here\u2019s what we learned.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Practicing balance can be fun<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Children walk on curbs and twirl on purpose. But as people get taller, heavier and older they often stop practicing movements that help with balance, said Susan Frikken, a physical therapist and co-creator of <a href=\"https:\/\/ballroombasicsforbalance.org\/about-us\/\">Ballroom Basics for Balance<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The class uses music and different dance genres to teach people to improve balance. Students often waltz on their tip toes, turn during tangos and switch from lead to follower to challenge their minds during salsa.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The nonprofit Safe Communities outlines its <a href=\"https:\/\/safecommunities.org\/falls-free\/better-balance-tools\/\">\u201cKeys to Better Balance\u201d<\/a> on its website, including the balance exercises used during ballroom dancing and movements people can do at home.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Throw away the throw rug<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Loose rugs and cluttered walkways increase fall risk. Small home improvements like taping down rugs, installing grab bars and adding bright tape to stairs can significantly improve safety, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.aarp.org\/home-living\/fall-prevention-safety-tips\/\">according to the AARP<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/agebettertoday.org\/safe-at-home\/\">AgeBetter Today<\/a> provides free home safety assessments for older adults in Dane County. Elsewhere in Wisconsin, residents can ask their <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dhs.wisconsin.gov\/adrc\/index.htm\">Aging and Disability Resource Center<\/a> about local home safety resources.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Talk about falls<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Stepping On is a multi-week fall prevention course that has been shown to reduce falls by more than 30%. Wisconsin residents can find a statewide list of classes through the <a href=\"https:\/\/wihealthyaging.org\/programs\/find-a-workshop\/\">Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Attendees at a recent class in Madison reviewed the importance of regular eye exams.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Marcy DeGreef, who facilitated the class, suggested discussing fall risk with health care providers. It\u2019s important for people to understand how the medication they are taking might&nbsp; impact balance, she explained.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Additional resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncoa.org\/tools\/falls-free-checkup\/\">National Council on Aging<\/a> provides an online exam to help determine a person\u2019s fall risk.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Madison School and Community Recreation <a href=\"https:\/\/www.mscr.org\/registration-information\/program-guide\/\">program guide<\/a> lists classes \u2014 like Parkour for Seniors \u2014- that help people build fall resiliency. People can register online or get assistance by calling 608-204-3000.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group has-light-gray-background-color has-background\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Q&amp;Aging<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Aging comes with big questions \u2014 whether it\u2019s about health care, housing or what comes next.Wisconsin Watch is working to <a href=\"https:\/\/wisconsinwatch.org\/2026\/04\/wisconsin-long-term-care-facility-tour-without-appointment-nursing-home-assisted-living\/\">answer questions and share practical tips about aging<\/a> in Wisconsin. To ask a question or offer a suggestion, fill out <a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSfQ2WH33qXyDY4pI-fJHkxjT_IQbglooNnoHW1m1f0vwDk0Tg\/viewform\">this form<\/a> or contact reporter Addie Costello via email (<a href=\"mailto:acostello@wisconsinwatch.org\">acostello@wisconsinwatch.org<\/a>) or phone (608-616-5239).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Falls lead to serious injuries and deaths across Wisconsin each year. Here\u2019s how to limit your risk.<\/p>\n","protected":false,"gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"html"}]},"author":2416,"featured_media":159508,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"single-feature.php","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_sponsor_sponsorship_scope":"","newspack_sponsor_native_byline_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_native_category_display":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_style":"inherit","newspack_sponsor_underwriter_placement":"inherit","_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"newspack_content_restriction_is_exempt":false,"newspack_featured_image_position":"large","newspack_post_subtitle":"Falls lead to serious injuries and deaths across Wisconsin each year. Here\u2019s how to limit your risk.","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","republication-tracker-tool-hide-widget":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[181,195,9960],"tags":[1273,4470,9966,3894],"newspack_spnsrs_tax":[],"coauthors":[10136],"class_list":["post-159507","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-community","category-health","category-resources","tag-aging","tag-health-2","tag-news","tag-wisconsin-watch","entry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Fall prevention for older adults: Wisconsin experts share tips to stay safe<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Falls lead to serious injuries and deaths across Wisconsin each year. 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