Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging

September/October 2024

In This Issue:

>Age With Confidence, Prevent Falls!

>Age Well Series

>Active Aging Week

>Featured Program

>Find a Workshop

Age With Confidence, Prevent Falls! 

Did you know September is Falls Prevention Awareness Month (FPAM)! Chances are you or someone you know has experienced a fall. If you have, you’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1 in 4 older adults have a fall each year and 1 out of every 10 falls causes an injury. The good news is that falls are preventable!  

There are things you can do to reduce your risk and age with confidence. At FallsFreeWI.org you’ll find strategies you can use in your everyday life. Learn some simple balance and strength exercises, go through an interactive Home Safety Challenge where you can identify hazards and helpful tips to make your home safer, find information about how things like medications, footwear, vision and hearing can affect your risk of falling, and more! 

Every year, organizations throughout Wisconsin, including the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging, convener of the Falls Free® Wisconsin Coalition, spend September raising awareness about the impact of falls, and how you can prevent them. This month, find a falls prevention awareness event near you. Events held throughout the state include activities like free balance and hearing screenings, educational speakers, tips from local experts, giveaways, and more.

Though September is Falls Prevention Awareness Month, falls prevention should be practiced year-round. Learn more by attending a Stepping On workshop, an evidence-based program proven to reduce falls by 31%! Workshops are held throughout the year all across the state. Find A Workshop near you!

Event Calendar

Click to view events!

Age Well Series

The Age Well series is a set of presentations designed to bring you information about how to age well! This past month we had a fantastic presentation on Making a Will. View the recording below or visit the Age Well Series page to find out more information about the event.

Upcoming Events:



September: Click the flyer below for more information.

October: Nutrition

November: Building Blocks of Connection

Stay tuned for details.

Find a Workshop

Take charge of your health by taking a WIHA workshop. We offer in-person and virtual (online or by phone) programs that give you the tools to age well. Getting started is easy – simply click the link below.

Active & Engaged

What You Can Do for Your Health & Well-Being

Maintaining physical activity and social engagement becomes progressively important as we age. Regular exercise can help manage chronic conditions, improve mobility, and enhance the overall quality of life. Additionally, staying socially engaged can combat feelings of loneliness and depression.  

Active Aging Week was launched by the International Council of Active Aging to promote and celebrate the benefits of living an active and engaged lifestyle, specifically for older adults. This is held each year on the first Monday of October, starting this year’s celebration on September 30 to October 6.  

Active Aging week is filled with activities catered to a variety of interests and fitness levels. Here’s a look at some events that you might enjoy:  



1. Fitness Classes – Join a class such as indoor cycling, high-low, strength training, yoga, tai chi, water aerobics, or more. There are many classes available at a variety of fitness levels.   
2. Walking Groups – Participate in a Walk with Ease workshop or walk with a group of people around your community or local parks. This is a relaxing way to get some physical activity and engage in socialization.  

>Read More

Featured Program: Healthy Living with Chronic Pain

September is Chronic Pain Awareness Month. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2016, approximately 50 million adults in the United States were experiencing chronic pain. Finding a way to manage chronic pain can be important. That's where Healthy Living with Chronic Pain can help!

Research: Healthy Living with Chronic Pain is researched and shown to improve confidence in pain management, lessen pain and dependence on others, improve mental health, improve energy, reduce pain, improve understanding of pain and coping skills.

Who is it for: Healthy Living with Chronic Pain is designed for any adult who has or who lives with someone with chronic pain

>Read More

Make a gift to WIHA today!

We’re aging. All of us. And it’s up to each of us to take good care of ourselves and our health as we age. That’s where we come in. We’re here to help people help themselves to better health. But we can’t do it alone! As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, we operate on grants and contributions from generous donors and partners. Your support is vital to us as we administer programs and promote practices that encourage good health. With your donation we can serve older adults in the best possible way to increase the quality of their lives. We thank you so much for being a part of our network!

Healthy People 2030 Champion is a service mark of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Used with permission. Participation by WIHA does not imply endorsement by HHS/ODPHP.