Will County Gazette

Village of New Lenox Safe Community Coalition (America) met March 13.

Here are the minutes provided by the coalition:

OLDER ADULTS FALLS PREVENTION TASK GROUP MEETING MINUTES

CALL TO ORDER

Dan Martin called the meeting to order at 1:35pm. This meeting was held at the New Lenox Public Library in their Community Room. All those in attendance introduced themselves.

IN ATTENDANCE

The Older Adults Falls Prevention Task Group Members in attendance were Dan Martin / Village of New Lenox, Laura Regis, Darlene Purler, Linda Bunting, Diannaha Thompson / CNNSSA Meals on Wheels, Gloria Bodnar, Sarah Zayyad / Rush Physical Therapy, Colette Loecke, Dominic Ricobene / New Lenox Public Library, Marisa Tomich / New Lenox Fire Protection District, and Kathy Beaudry.

APPROVAL OF JANUARY 17, 2024 MEETING MINUTES

The Minutes of the January 17, 2024 Task Group Meeting, which had been disseminated via email to Task Group Members, were discussed. Gloria Bodnar made a motion to approve the minutes, seconded by Linda Bunting. After no further discussion, the motion carried and the minutes were approved.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Laura encouraged everyone to participate in CPR / AED refresher class provided by New Lenox Fire Protection District Fire & Life Safety Educator and fellow MOB Coach, Marisa Tomich. Laura noted that the class will start immediately following the meeting. Everyone in attendance thanked Marisa for offering this training.

OLD BUSINESS

“A Matter of Balance” Class #52

Class #52 was held at Horizon Senior Living Facility from January 22, 2024 thru February 14, 2024 on Mondays and Wednesday mornings. Taught by Coaches Anna Schultz, Darlene Purler and Linda Bunting, this class graduated 16 seniors.

“Matter of Balance” Class #53

MOB Class #53 will be held on Mondays and Wednesdays, 9:30am to 11:30am, in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall. The class will start on Monday, April 1st and graduate on Wednesday April 24th. Coaches for this class will be Dan Martin, Judy Butler and Gloria Bodnar. Everyone was encouraged to help market this class. Currently, there are six older adults registered for the class.

“A Matter of Balance” Coach Refresher Training

This class was held on Thursday, February 8, 2024 from 9:00am to 11:30am, provided by Master Trainers, Linda Bunting, Laura Regis and Anna Schultz. The class, “Fill in The Blanks” was geared toward giving all coaches the tools needed to feel confident as a class leader. All participants were provided with a “Jump Drive” containing Power Points for each session, the MOB Videos for Sessions 1 and 3, and current handouts that can be used on a resource table. The class was followed by lunch provided by Dan Martin. 100% of current coaches were in attendance! Laura thanked everyone for attending. Dan thanked Laura, Linda and Anna for teaching the class.

“A Matter of Balance” New Coach Training

New Coach Training class scheduled for February 21 & 22, 2024, was cancelled due to registrant conflict. This class may be held at a later date, should potential coaches voice interest.

NEW BUSINESS

“Fit and Strong”

Spencer Campus has been secured for this 8-week program. The class will start on Monday, June 3, 2024 and end on Friday, July 26, 2024. The class will be held on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:30am to 11:00am.

During the discussion, those in attendance (Fit and Strong! Instructors) committed to assisting this summer. There will be an instructor group on Mondays, an instructor group on Wednesdays, and an instructor group on Fridays. Some instructors will be there all three days of the week.

Sarah Zayyad advised that she would check her work schedule to see if she can assist on Mondays.

Dan Martin will create a schedule and send it out to everyone. Anyone with conflicts (ex. vacation time, appointments, etc…) that would cause them to miss a class was advised to send Dan those dates.

“Seniors with Sole”

This free walking program for Seniors with their own walking goals will start on Tuesday, June 4, 2024 and end on Thursday, July 25, 2024. The class will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30am to 9:30am in the New Lenox Commons.

Dan Martin will ask Mercy and Tom Nolan if they will lead the program this summer. Gloria Bodnar also advised that she will assist. Some suggestions made the previous year included eliminating the raffle that has been done as an incentive for the past three years. After discussion, there still will be a raffle, but it will be scaled down from previous years. Gift cards will be $20.00 to $25.00. Diannaha Thompson advised that she would be willing to donate gift cards as well.

“One Fall Can Change It All”

The New Lenox VFW Hall has been reserved for this event on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 / 7:30am to 12:00pm. In the past, this event has successfully been held 8:30am to 11:30am. Planning Team, established at the January Task Group meeting, includes: Colette, Lori, Diannah, Linda, Jameka and Laura. The Planning Committee will meet at Gatto’s on April 10, 2024 at 12:00pm.

GOOD OF THE ORDER

Linda Bunting and Laura Regis will represent the New Lenox Safe Community Coalition and its Older Adults Falls Prevention Task Group at the next TRIAD Meeting. This meeting will be held on Thursday, March 21, 2024 / 1:30pm at the Will County Sheriff’s Office on Laraway Road. Dan Martin will make handouts (“A Matter of Balance” Class #53) for the meeting that Linda Bunting offered to pick up at the Village Hall in advance of the meeting.

The next New Lenox Safe Community Coalition Meeting will take place on Wednesday, March 27, 2024 / 10:30am, at Gatto’s Italian Restaurant. Please RSVP to Dan Martin if planning to attend.

NEXT MEETING DATE

The next meeting of the Older Adults Falls Prevention Task Group will be held on Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at 1:30pm, via Zoom videoconference.

ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at approximately 2:10pm. A number of Task Group Members stayed for Marisa’s CPR / AED refresher training.

Older Adults Falls Prevention Task Group

“To reduce injuries and deaths in the older adult population through the utilization of evidence-based and other programs designed to reduce falls and the fear of falling.”

https://www.newlenox.net/files/documents/SafeCommunitiesAmericaTaskGroupsMinutes03-13-24102006032724AM1352.pdf