Due to COVID-19, the popular A Matter of Balance (MOB)  program was temporarily put on pause.

Earlier this summer, MaineHealth, the home of the MOB program, reached out to Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley and North Shore to discuss a virtual adaptation of the program. ETHOS of Boston and Bristol Elder Services joined ESMV-NS to pilot the program via Zoom thanks to funding from the Harvard Pilgrim Health Care Foundation. This pilot is the first of its kind anywhere.

The three organizations successfully conducted their pilot workshops with a total of 25 participants. A second pilot is starting September 1 with Coastline Elder Services, the Duxbury Council On Aging, LifePath, Inc./WestMass Elder Care partnership, the Family Health Center of Worcester, Greater Lynn Senior Services, and South Shore Health/Enhance Asian Community on Health, Inc. partnership.

The four-week MOB virtual workshop is conducted over eight sessions and led by trained coaches. The program’s goal is to reduce fear of falling by emphasizing practical coping strategies, and increase activity levels and confidence among older adults.

For more information about Matter of Balance and this pilot program, visit https://healthyliving4me.org/