On October 16, the Health Care District of Palm Beach County celebrated the first anniversary of its falls prevention program, Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance®. Falls are the leading cause of traumatic injury among Palm Beach County residents, and Tai Ji Quan is proven to help improve balance and reduce the risk of falls. To combat this, last year, Congresswoman Frankel secured a $1 million grant for this initiative to expand Tai Ji Quan classes across the county.

“Falls are the leading cause of traumatic injury among adults over 65 in Palm Beach County and across the country, costing the United States health care system over $80 billion each year. These falls can be debilitating, heartbreaking, and financially burdensome,” said Rep. Frankel. “But the good news is that they’re preventable! That’s why I’m so proud of the Health Care District’s fall prevention program and excited to help expand their vital work across our county and the nation.”

Health Care District President and CEO Darcy J. Davis presented Congresswoman Lois Frankel with an award for championing the initiative countywide.

“We’ve helped several hundred county residents implement Tai Ji Quan techniques in their daily lives to prevent falls and subsequent injuries,” stated Darcy J. Davis, President and CEO of the Health Care District. “Our goal is to equip more residents with the tools they need to prevent falls and remain active and healthy for the long term.”

“We’re so blessed to live here in Palm Beach County, to be able to exercise outside, and protect ourselves from falls as we age,” said Palm Beach County Mayor Maria Sachs to some 75 event attendees. “What’s powerful about this program is how it spreads, one person tells another, and soon we’re reaching more people.”

Two class participants, Bonni Smith and Rachel Blumenthal, shared their stories about the program’s positive impact on their physical and mental health. The event concluded with a class demonstration. Health Care District Senior VP and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Belma Andric and Jennifer Cirillo, Director of Palm Beach County Parks and Recreation, also spoke at the event.

For free falls prevention resources, visit www.preventfallspbc.org or the Prevent Falls PBC app. To watch a video about the classes and how they are helping participants, click here.