By Maggie Beamguard
West End Presbyterian Church welcomed community members in October to a two-part series on health, safety and fall prevention. The events offered practical guidance for staying active and maintaining well-being as people age.
The “Health, Safety, and Fall Prevention Series” was held Oct. 8 and 15 at the church’s fellowship hall, the Crawford Center. The first session drew 44 attendees, followed by 38 at the second, according to Carol Allen, the church’s membership chair.
The sessions featured physical therapists from FirstHealth Moore Regional Hospital, a fitness coordinator from the Moore County Senior Enrichment Center (MCSEC) and Dr. Darrell Simpkins, a retired physician with a background in emergency medicine and cardiac rehab.
The physical therapists affiliated with FirstHealth of the Carolinas, Valerie Beltrane-Preston and Amy Hilburn, discussed factors related to fall prevention, including balance, agility, back health and vision.
Chris Pevia, fitness coordinator at MCSEC, led participants through approximately 10 minutes of chair exercises. Attendees were encouraged to participate at a level appropriate to their abilities.
Simpkins emphasized motivation and the value of setting realistic goals and making gradual changes.
Lynne Drinkwater, program coordinator at MCSEC, provided a comprehensive overview of the MCSEC, highlighting the many health, wellness, fitness and enrichment programs available for Moore County residents age 50 and up as well as resources such as the Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) available for those over 60.
The idea for the series came from the church’s membership committee which periodically organizes events for the broader community. As members of the committee discussed possible topics of interest, they recognized an opportunity to offer information that would be useful to both the congregation and the surrounding community.
Allen expressed the message she hoped participants would take away from the event. “Small steps and simple changes,” she said, “can make a real difference in our overall well-being.”
For more information about programs and opportunities through MCSEC, 8040 U.S. 15, West End, call 910-947-4483 or visit www.moorecountync.gov/161/Aging.
Contact Maggie Beamguard at maggie@thepilot.com.
