Choi, a Lead Resident Service Coordinator and Wellness Coordinator at Vista Towers in Los Angeles, and Park, a Resident Service Coordinator at Long Beach Lutheran Tower, were nominated by the Los Angeles Falls Prevention Coalition, an organization dedicated to reducing fall risk for older adults through education, advocacy, planning, and community action across Los Angeles County.

This year, Choi translated fall prevention training materials into Korean as well as developing informational flyers. And Park completed his training to become a Matter of Balance Facilitator, allowing him to teach the program to Korean-speaking residents at Pilgrim Towers in Los Angeles.

Covia’s Resident Service Coordinators encourage one another to get more involved in fall prevention programs as part of their role in ensuring residents remain independent and safe in their homes as long as possible. Katherine Smith, Senior Director of Social Services, first introduced Choi to the Coalition by inviting her to attend a meeting, and she’s been involved ever since. And in her turn, Choi invited Park to be trained as a Matter of Balance Facilitator.

“Falls are not part of the aging process,” says Park. Instead, people “need to be educated, take preventive measures and initiate intervention actions!” The Matter of Balance class helps seniors prevent falls before they happen, promoting a better quality of life. Through Choi and Park, Korean-speaking seniors can now participate in the program in their first language.

This recognition from Los Angeles is simply motivation to keep going, Choi and Park explain. “Being recognized was important to me because it opened another door for me as a Coalition member and as an RSC to rethink more ways to prevent falls,” says Choi. Park says, “I look forward to teaching Matter of Balance to many more Korean speaking residents next year!”

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Staying fit, independent and preventing falls are the goals of many residents.

That is why the community offers a customized fitness program designed to increase energy and vitality, improve muscular strength, balance, cardiovascular health, and confidence. One of the ways they do this is by using HUR, a specialized strength training solution specifically designed for older adults in senior living communities and skilled nursing rehabilitation centers. The equipment, developed from research by Helsinki University Research (HUR) in Finland, provides a safe, easy to use, and effective full body workout for wellness, preventive, rehabilitative, and maintenance training.

“What makes the HUR equipment unique is its versatility and ease of use,” said Sunny View’s Wellness Coordinator Alicia Estrada. “It uses smart technology to remember the user, is designed for ease of getting on and off, and allows residents to work out on their own schedules. Making exercising fun and something residents can do on their own increases participation. We have seen that happen here at Sunny View.”

Using the equipment is simple. Residents first meet with Alicia and establish goals such as improving strength, stamina or a desire to work on a specific part of the body, like arms or legs. Alicia develops an individual program for each resident and enters that person’s information into a database. Residents are then given a wristband that they can scan into the HUR system.

The high-tech machines are linked to a computer, which automatically determines a user’s workout based on a routine pre-programmed into the wristband. Alicia receives feedback from the system and can adjust routines as needed. Feedback also includes attendance and progress reports. This is particularly helpful for residents undergoing rehabilitation.

Fall prevention is key in senior communities because falls are so problematic. One in three Americans over the age of 65 falls every year, putting them at risk for debilitating fractures, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Alicia said after reading several studies on fall prevention, she initiated her own study that found residents who exercised more were less likely to fall.

The HUR equipment uses computerized air pressure that is gentler on aging joints, according to the company. The resistance is smoother and simulates muscle movement compared to weight stacking machines.

“I like the concept of working out on my own,” said resident Don Garabedian. “I just scan my wristband and I’m all set. Everything is set up automatically for me.”

“This equipment has made me more independent,” said resident Linda Smith. “I’ve been working out since September and I have noticed a difference.”

The HUR machines join a list of wellness amenities at Sunny View including the innovative anti-gravity treadmill and CyberCycle.

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