Stable, Able and Strong ~ The National Picture

Stable, Able and Strong is a national
program sponsored by the Canadian
Association of Occupational Therapists
and the University of Ottawa,
Occupational Therapy Program and
funded by the Public Health Agency of
Canada.
National Coordinator: Mary Lou Boudreau
Stable, Able and Strong ~ The National Picture
Stable, Able and Strong is a post-fall support program for older adults who have
experienced a fall to enable them to maintain or resume engagement in meaningful
activities at home and in the community. This post-fall support program will address fear of
falling; personal, environmental, and activity-related risk factors for subsequent falls, and
strategies to safely resume daily occupations.
Stable, Able and Strong is using a community
development model that will provide
training and support for local older adult
volunteers to become peer mentors. The
peer mentors will work with older adults in
the community who have fallen to help
them to identify their fall risks and set goals
to resume meaningful activities. The peer
mentors will enable older adults to connect with
existing medical, social service and community
services that can help them meet their goals. If gaps
in local services are identified, the local site
coordinator and peer mentors can draw on a
collection of resources to develop specific modules to
meet the clients’ needs.
To date, the national project team has been
concentrating on the development of resources,
including a program manual, a peer mentor
workbook, and a database of fall prevention and post-
fall resources in paper and on-line format.
These build on existing Health Canada and
non-governmental organization resources,
as well as resources that were developed
in a previous CAOT and University of
Ottawa project, Tools for Living Well. The
Tools for Living Well resources are available
for download at www.otworks.ca.
Once the new Stable, Able and
Strong resources are tested and
revised based on feedback, they’ll
be available as well. Stable, Able
and Strong is excited to announce
that there are three pilot sites:
Calgary, Ottawa-Gattineau and
Charlottetown. We plan to publish
regular newsletters throughout the
program. Each will focus on both the national
picture and the news from each site. We would like to
introduce our three Site Coordinators:
Calgary: Margaret Usherwood: Margaret has a background in nursing, and has recently been
contracted for projects dealing with health promotion for seniors and seniors housing. She was the Calgary Site
Coordinator for the ”Tools for Living Well,” a national falls prevention project. Margaret brings over 10 years of
experience in home care and project management. The Calgary site for Stable, Able and Strong is hosted by the
Confederation Park Senior Citizens Centre, 2212-13 St. N.W., Calgary, AB T2M 4P7 Telephone: (403) 289-4780.
Ottawa-Gatineau: Una Choi:
Una graduated from the occupational therapy program at the University
of Ottawa in 1992. She has travelled extensively, working as an occupational therapist in several different
countries. Una has a private practice clinic in Gatineau, Quebec and also practices in the Ottawa area. The
Gatineau site for Stable, Able and Strong is hosted by the Centre des aînés de Gatineau, 89, rue Jean-RenéMonette, Gatineau, QC J8P 5B8 Telephone: (819) 663-3305.
Charlottetown: Marie Brine: Marie graduated from the occupational therapy program at Dalhousie
University in 1985. Throughout her career, she has taken an active interest in prevention and linking individuals with
their communities. She presently has her own private practice and has many connections throughout Charlottetown
and Prince Edward Island. Marie was the Site Coordinator for Prince Edward Island for the falls prevention project
Tools for Living Well. The Charlottetown site for Stable, Able and Strong is hosted by the Seniors Active Living
Centre, CARI Facility Centre, 550 University Ave, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3 Telephone: (902) 628-8388.
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists: CTTC Building, 3400 - 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON
K1S 5R1 Canada, www.caot.ca • Tel.: (613) 523-2268 • 1 (800) 434-2268 • Fax: (613) 523-2552
Stable, Able and Strong is a national
program sponsored by the Canadian
Association of Occupational Therapists
and the University of Ottawa,
Occupational Therapy Program and
funded by the Public Health Agency of
Canada.
Spotlight on Charlottetown
The Charlottetown site is progressing very well with the Stable, Able and Strong project.
The Seniors Active Living Center has embraced Stable Able and Strong and is the host site.
A display is presently set up at the Centre and there are a number of pamphlets and other
resources available. By contacting or stopping by the Centre, an appointment can be made
if older adults, caregivers or family members wish to speak individually with Marie Brine,
occupational therapist and Site Coordinator.
Media Launch
Members of the public and the media
attended the official launch of
Stable, Able and Strong at a
reception and information
session on Monday, October
16, 2006 at the Seniors
Active Living Centre. This
event was part of the
Centre’s Open House Week,
October 16-20, 2006.
“Those who have had a fall
are at risk of falling again” says
Marie Brine. “Their fear of this
sometimes makes them withdraw
from activity because they begin to lose
confidence and may even become depressed. In the
model we are creating, using volunteers will enable us
to create post-fall support services with a collection of
resources, a database for use by care-givers and
health professionals as well as by older adults
interested in preventing falls. I am delighted that the
Seniors Active Living Centre has agreed to work with
us and provide a home base for the materials”.
Commercial breaks were used for presentation and
discussion of the risks of falls, benefits of remaining
active, avoiding falls while being active outside, the
use of Nordic poles and stairway safety. There is
another “Deal or No Deal” brown bag scheduled for
Wednesday, April 11, 2007 on “Bathroom Safety”.
Also take some time to pick up and read the
information on the “Stable, Able and Strong” display.
Peer mentors
Charlottetown Site Coordinator: Marie Brine
Seniors Active Living Centre, CARI Facility Centre,
550 University Ave, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3
Telephone: (902) 628-8388.
President of the Seniors Active Living Centre, Olive
Bryanton is pleased to have such an important
initiative at the Centre: “This fits in very well with the
work we have already been doing in falls prevention
with our “Seniors Support” Program.”
Mixing Facts with fun
A winter safety presentation was held in December in
which Mrs. Claus arrived and handed out lots of items
connected with safety. On January 31, 2007 a “Deal
or No Deal” brown bag lunch was held complete with
sound effects, prizes and audience participation.
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists: CTTC Building, 3400 - 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON
K1S 5R1 Canada, www.caot.ca • Tel.: (613) 523-2268 • 1 (800) 434-2268 • Fax: (613) 523-2552
Stable, Able and Strong is a national
program sponsored by the Canadian
Association of Occupational Therapists
and the University of Ottawa,
Occupational Therapy Program and
funded by the Public Health Agency of
Canada.
Spotlight on Calgary
Calgary has established the Confederation Park Senior Citizens Centre, 2212-13 St. N.W.,
Calgary as the site for the Stable, Able and Strong project. The staff at the Confederation
Park Senior Citizens Centre has been very supportive and generous in assisting in the
launch of this project.
Are you an older adult who
experienced a slip, trip or fall?
has role for you! A full training
If you are an older adult who has fallen, a concerned
family member, or just interested in fall safety, you
are welcome to drop in on Tuesday afternoons from
1:00 pm until 3:00 pm. We will also be open to
assist clients by appointment Tuesdays and
Thursdays from 10:00am until 3:00 pm. For an
appointment or for more information, please call
289-4780. A fall prevention display is available at all
times in the foyer of the center with various
brochures and information regarding active
independent living and fall prevention.
Working with our community
The Team in Calgary is working closely with the
Calgary Health Region Falls Prevention Team, the
Healthy Aging Team as well as the Calgary Injury
Prevention Coalition’s Older Adult Fall Prevention
Committee to gather information regarding services
that could assist clients living in the community who
have identified themselves “at risk” or who have a
fear of falling. Several presentations have been
made in the community to older adults,
professionals (e.g. family doctors, pharmacists, and
nurses), and various groups who have
contact with seniors who may be
at risk of a fall such as seniors’
centers, retirement residences
and
senior
apartment
complexes.
package is available for
anyone who is accepted as
a peer mentor. The Stable,
Able and Strong Site
Coordinator,
Margaret
Usherwood
will
offer
supervision and assistance
to you. If you’re interested,
Margaret would love to hear
from you.
The Stable, Able and Strong
Resource Database
As part of our program, we are establishing a
database of local health and active living programs
such as walking programs, balance programs and
other resources which can assist older adults in
doing the activities which are important to them. If
you have an innovative program that we could add
to our database please contact Margaret
Usherwood,
Calgary
Site
Coordinator,
Confederation Park Senior Citizens Centre, 2212-13
St. N.W., Calgary, AB T2M 4P7 Telephone: (403) 2894780. Email: [email protected].
Peer Mentors
We are excited to welcome
peer mentors to be part of
the program and are seeking
more volunteers to join the
team. If you are a good listener and
would like to help other older adults
find out more about the programs and services that
are available in your neighbourhood, this might be a
Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists: CTTC Building, 3400 - 1125 Colonel By Drive, Ottawa, ON
K1S 5R1 Canada, www.caot.ca • Tel.: (613) 523-2268 • 1 (800) 434-2268 • Fax: (613) 523-2552
Stables, capables et forts est un
programme national parrainé par
l’Association canadienne des
ergothérapeutes et le programme
d’ergothérapie de l’Université d’Ottawa;
le programme est financé par l’Agence
de santé publique du Canada.
Stables, capables et forts dans la région de l’Outaouais !
Accueilli par le Centre des aînés de Gatineau
89, rue Jean-René-Monette. Gatineau, QC J8P 5B8
Un chaleureux merci au personnel et aux bénévoles
du Centre pour leur support et leur précieuse
collaboration à la mise en œuvre de ce projet !
Le Centre des aînés met à la disposition
du programme Stables, capables et forts,
un local où nous pourrons offrir :
• de l’assistance aux aînés ayant fait une chute qui
demeurent toujours à domicile
• du support et des renseignements aux membres
de la famille et les aidants naturels
• des renseignements concernant la sécurité, la
prévention et les stratégies à utiliser à la suite
d’une chute et les ressources communautaires
Vous pouvez également en tout temps:
• laisser un message au (819) 663-3305 pour
prendre un rendez-vous
• consulter notre présentoir à l’entrée du Centre
qui met à votre disposition des brochures et des
informations pertinentes au sujet des chutes
• participer en envoyant les coordonnées d’un
nouveau programme pour les aînés à la
Coordinatrice locale, Una Choi [email protected].
Nous
sommes
toujours
à
la
recherche
d’aînés/bénévoles qui désirent suivre une formation
afin de devenir des “Mentors” pour aider d’autres
aînés ayant fait une chute !
Nous sommes disponibles :
La Coordinatrice veillera :
• lundi entre 9 h et 12h
• mercredi entre 13 h et 16 h
• à la formation et la supervision des Mentors
• au bon déroulement du projet et sa viabilité à
long terme
• à la communication au sein du réseau de la santé
pour répondre à vos questions et vous permettre de
consulter notre banque de données des services et
programmes locaux et nationaux disponibles pour
les aînés.
Pour toutes informations supplémentaires, veuillez
joindre Una Choi au 613-612-2464.
Association canadienne des ergothérapeutes: Édifice CTTC, bureau 3400, 1125, prom. Colonel By, Ottawa ON
K1S 5R1 Canada, www.caot.ca • Téléphone: (613) 523-2268 • 1 (800) 434-2268 • Télécopieur: (613) 523-2552