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Tai Chi
Stepping On
Veteran Services
CPR/First Aid
Prevention Work
Tai Chi
Tai chi is supported and promoted across the district to reduce unintentional injuries due to falls and allow older adults to remain independent in their own homes longer.
What:
Tai Chi is a graceful form of exercise that involves a series of movements, known as forms that are performed in a slow, focused manner combined with controlled breathing. It is a low impact exercise that puts minimal stress on muscles and joints-making it suitable for many older adults. It doesn’t require special equipment and can be practiced indoors or outdoors, either alone or in a group.
Who:
People who are 60 years of age or older.
Why:
Each year, about one third of adults aged 65 years of age and older fall, and 20 to 30 percent of those who fall suffer moderate to severe injuries, such as bruises, hip fractures, and head traumas. Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths and the most common cause of nonfatal injuries among this population. By taking a Tai Chi class you improve your strength and balance, and helps prevent falls. Research has shown that practicing Tai Chi, a balance-prompting exercise, is a very effective way for older adults to reduce the risk of falling and to maintain their independence.
PHS has trained instructors in Gage, Saline, Fillmore and Jefferson counties. To find out more about a class in your community contact Jill Kuzelka at 402-826-3880.
Stepping On
Injury Prevention for Older Adults
Stepping On, an evidenced based fall prevention program is supported by Public Health Solutions through a grant from the DHHS Injury Prevention Program.
About the Program
Stepping On, an evidenced based fall prevention program supported by Public Health Solutions through a grant from the DHHS Injury Prevention Program.
The Stepping On program, throughout our five county area, offers older people a way of reducing falls and at the same time increasing self confidence in situations where they are at risk of falling.
Falls are a serious problem, but can be prevented at any age.
This program, which was developed in Australia and been implemented in the USA and internationally is considered to be one of the most effective falls prevention programs available, giving people the confidence to undertake their everyday activities safely. Participation in a program like Stepping On will help older people maintain independence and give them confidence in their mobility so they are able to undertake their everyday activities safely and without the risk of falling.
The Stepping On program incorporates a group setting plus individualized follow-up. It covers a range of issues, including falls and risk, strength and balance exercises, home hazards, safe footwear, vision and falls, safety in public places, community mobility, and coping after a fall, and understanding how to initiate a medication review.
To find a class in your county contact Jill Kuzelka at 402-826-3880.
Veteran Services
Readying Nebraska’s Communities to Serve Veterans and their Families.
VetSET Nebraska is a Rural Veteran Coordination Pilot project funded through a grant from the VA Office of Rural Health to the Nebraska Association of Local Health Directors (NALHD). The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) created this grant program to support Veterans and their families who reside in rural or underserved areas.
NALHD was selected as 1 of only 5 organizations across the nation to receive this grant. NALHD member Local Health Departments and their community partners are building their capacity to meet the distinctive needs of veterans, service members, and their families.
Public Health Solutions is participating in this pilot project to support veterans, families and communities across all five of our counties. Public Health Solutions is working with small businesses, Veterans, elected officials, community leaders, non-profits and state government agencies, and faith-based organizations to raise awareness about our veterans and their families.
Public Health Solutions has a veteran advocate and is committed to provide services to support the health and well being of our veterans and their family members.
To find out more about this exciting program or to find out when the next community event is taking place, contact Jill Kuzelka at jkuzelka@phsneb.org.
For more information, see our flyer here!
CPR/First Aid Classes
Certified Community CPR Training
Public Health Solutions’ staff and community volunteers throughout the five-county district offer training attendees simple instructions for:
Recognizing Sudden Cardiac Arrest
Calling 911
Performing life-saving hands-only CPR
Using an automated external defibrillator (AED)
Students practice chest compression and AED use on mannequins. The training takes approximately 30 minutes.
To request or schedule a hands-only CPR and AED training, contact Kate Lange, RN, BSN, at kate@phsneb.org or 402-826-3880.
Prevention Work
Community coalition groups exist in each of our five-counties to support prevention work within the district. The goal of these collaborative groups is to reduce high-risk youth behaviors and increase protective factors among citizens.
Staff at PHS are trained and available to facilitate specialized training for youth and adults in order to support this prevention work.
Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR)
Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. QPR can be learned in a “Gatekeeper” course in as little as one hour.
Mental Health First Aide (youth and adult)
This skills-based training course teaches participants about mental health and substance-use issues. It teaches you how to help someone who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge, and recognize and respond to signs of addiction and mental illness.
Both of these trainings are available to the public including use in schools, law enforcement agencies, churches, community groups, and more!
To find out more about how to schedule a training, contact Jill Kuzelka at 402-826-3880.
To learn more about the prevention coalitions in your area, visit:
talkheart2heart.org
