Fall Prevention Programs in Northern California

People with Parkinson's are at high risk of falling due to problems with balance, rigidity, and slowness of movement -- the primary motor symptoms of PD.

Many fall prevention programs are at hospitals or senior centers. If you don't see a fall prevention program near you in the list below, please contact a local hospital or senior center. Stanford Health Care offers FREE Strong For Life exercise classes, easy-to-follow exercise routine designed to improve strength, function and balance in older adults with or without limitations.

Also check out our list of PD-specific exercise classes in the Bay Area.


Bay Area

Belmont - A Matter of Balance

Location: Twin Pines Senior Center, 20 Twin Pines Ln., Belmont, CA 94002, 650-595-7444

Contact: Corrie Fuhrman, recreation supervisor, Twin Pines Senior Center, 650-595-7445

Notes:

  • Designed to manage falls and increase activity levels. Participants learn to view falls as controllable, make changes to reduce fall risk at home, and exercise to increase strength and balance.
  • Class offered occasionally through collaborative effort of Stanford Health Care and Sequoia Hospital
  • Open to seniors 60 years+
  • Free

2 hours/week for 8 weeks


Burlingame - Balance Fitness

Location: Peninsula Healthcare District, Health and Fitness Center, 1875 Trousdale Dr., Burlingame, CA 94010, 650-448-1472

Contact: Richard Bergstrom, 650-448-1472

Notes:

  • Condition your core and balance to avoid injury.
  • Exercises are performed seated in a chair and standing. Chairs are available to support standing and balancing postures. 
  • Free for fitness center members, $20 for non-members

Monday,
11am-11:45am and
1pm-1:45pm

Wednesday, 11:30am-12:15pm

Friday, 11-11:45am


Contra Costa County - A Matter of Balance

Location: Offered virtually and in multiple locations in the county

Contact: Michele Alba, 925-937-8311, Diablo Region Meals on Wheels (ask for Fall Prevention Program)

Notes:

  • Evidence-based exercise program for older adults, designed to engage participants in completing exercises as well as interactive group discussion
  • Program goals focus on reducing the fear of falling, increasing confidence, mobility, strength, and balance
  • Tablets are available for participants needing a device to participate remotely

In-person
2 hours/week for 8 weeks

Virtual
2 hours/week for 9 weeks


Contra Costa County - Fall Prevention Program

Contact: Diablo Region Meals on Wheels, 925-937-8311 (ask for Fall Prevention Program)

Notes:

  • Free home safety assessment and home modifications to prevent falls and increase safety

Home visits


Cupertino - A Matter of Balance

Location: Cupertino Senior Center, 21251 Steven's Creek Blvd., Cupertino, CA 95014

Contact: Cupertino Senior Center, 408-777-3150

Notes:

  • Designed to manage falls and increase activity levels. Participants learn to view falls as controllable, make changes to reduce fall risk at home, and exercise to increase strength and balance.
  • Offered periodically, in-person
  • Free to seniors over age 60
  • Class is limited to 12 participants

2 hours/week for 8 weeks


Menlo Park - A Matter of Balance

Location: Little House, 800 Middle Ave., Menlo Park, CA 94025

Contact: Little House, 650-326-2025

Notes:

  • A Matter of Balance is designed to manage falls and increase activity levels. Participants learn to view falls as controllable, make changes to reduce fall risk at home, and exercise to increase strength and balance.
  • Classes are offered occasionally through a collaborative effort with Stanford Health Care
  • Open to seniors 60 years+
  • Free

2 hours/week for 8 weeks


Mountain View - A Matter of Balance

Location: Mountain View Senior Center, 266 Escuela Ave., Mountain View, CA 94040

Contact: Anthony Cukar, recreation coordinator, Mountain View Senior Center, 650-903-6442. Register at senior center front desk.

Notes:

  • Designed to manage falls and increase activity levels. Participants learn to view falls as controllable, make changes to reduce fall risk at home, and exercise to increase strength and balance.
  • Classes are offered through Stanford Health Care
  • Open to seniors 60 years+
  • Free

2 hours/week for 8 weeks


Napa County - Stop Falls Prevention Program

In home

Contact: Share the Care Napa Valley, 707-492-3198

Notes:

  • Provides screening, home safety assessments by a licensed occupational therapist, and home modifications as well as assistive device installation by a contractor
  • Free
  • Adults age 60 and older

Home visits


Oakland - Fall Prevention Class

Virtual class with a live instructor 

Contact: Kaiser Oakland Health Education Dept., 510-752-6150 

Notes:

  • Participants will learn the causes of falls, home safety tips, and exercises to improve balance and coordination

Virtual

2 hours


Petaluma - Fall Prevention Program

Location: Petaluma Health Center, 1179 North McDowell Blvd., Petaluma, CA 94954

Contact: Petaluma Health Center, 707-559-7500 (Mon-Fri, 7am-8pm)

Notes:

  • Virtual or in-person class options. In both, coaches will help you manage fear-of-falling, set goals to increase activity, learn and practice simple exercises, identify and fix fall hazards in your home
  • Occasionally offered in Spanish

A Matter of Balance

In person, 2 hours/week for 8 weeks


Fall Prevention & Better Balance

Virtual, 1 hour/week for 5 weeks


Redwood City - A Matter of Balance

Location: Sequoia Hospital Health & Wellness Center, 749 Brewster Ave., Redwood City, CA 94062

Contact: Sequoia Health & Wellness Center,  650-367-5998

Notes:

  • Designed to manage falls and increase activity levels. Participants learn to view falls as controllable, make changes to reduce fall risk at home, and exercise to increase strength and balance.
  • Open to seniors 60 years+
  • Free

2 hours/week for 8 weeks


Redwood City - Biodex SD Balance System Program

Location: Adaptive Physical Education, Veterans Memorial Senior Center, 939 Valota Rd., Redwood City, CA 94061

Contact: Adaptive Physical Education, 650-368-7732

Notes:

  • Comprehensive fall risk screening and conditioning program
  • This equipment increases mobility, assesses fall risk, improves balance, develops muscle tone, and increases agility

By arrangement only


San Carlos - A Matter of Balance

Location: San Carlos Community Center, 601 Chestnut St., San Carlos, CA 94070

Contact: San Carlos Community Center, 650-802-4384

Notes:

  • Designed to manage falls and increase activity levels. View falls as controllable. Make changes to reduce fall risk at home. Exercise to increase strength and balance.
  • Class offered occasionally through collaborative effort of Stanford Health Care and Sequoia Hospital
  • Open to seniors 60 years+
  • Free

2 hours/week for 8 weeks


San Francisco - Always Active

Classes are offered both virtually and in-person at multiple locations 

Contact: Luz Ibarra, 415-550-2265, or Sue Mittelman, 415-550-2208

Notes:

  • Multicomponent group exercise classes incorporates: aerobics, balance, flexibility, and strength using hand weights, resistance bands, and other props such as ladders, color dots and balls to improve coordination, power, and balance
  • Classes are led by trained, certified professionals
  • Free to seniors over age 60 ($25 annual donation suggested)
  • Promotional video
  • Link to schedule

1 hour offered several times per week


San Francisco - Fall Prevention Class

Both in-person and virtual class options

Contact: Christian J. Thompson, PhD

Notes:

  • Exercises focus on lower extremity strength, standing static and dynamic balance and gait enhancement
  • Must pass an in-person screening prior to enrollment in the Fall Prevention program (to ensure safety and appropriateness)
  • Classes held three times each year

1 hour, twice per week for 12 weeks


San Francisco - Maintain Your Balance Lecture

Location: California Pacific Medical Center, Davies Campus, Castro and Duboce Streets, Level B Auditorium, San Francisco, CA 94114

Contact: Michelle Spicher, DPT, CPMC Physical Therapy Dept.

Notes:

  • Suggested $10 donation
  • Offered annually (usually September)

2-hour interactive workshop led by physical therapist


Sonoma County - Fall Prevention Program

Locations: Various locations throughout Sonoma County

Contact: Sonoma County Area Agency on Aging, 707-565-5936

Notes:

  • Virtual or in-person class options. In both, coaches will help you manage fear-of-falling, set goals to increase activity, learn and practice simple exercises, identify and fix fall hazards in your home
  • Occasionally offered in Spanish

A Matter of Balance

In person, 2 hours/week for 8 weeks


Fall Prevention & Better Balance

Virtual, 1 hour/week for 5 weeks


Stanford - Farewell to Falls

Location: In your home

Contact: Bobby Moser, Stanford University Hospital & Clinics Farewell to Falls, 650-724-9369

Notes:

  • 2 home visits by an OT for assessment, medication review, home safety survey, fall reduction suggestions, and exercise demonstration
  • Age 65+ years
  • Requires willingness to follow an ongoing exercise regimen
  • Must live in an independent living situation in San Mateo or Santa Clara County
  • Free

2 home visits


Stanford - A Matter of Balance

Offered virtually and in multiple locations on the San Francisco Peninsula

Contact: Stanford Health Care, 650-725-2196

Notes:

  • Designed to manage falls and increase activity levels. Participants learn to view falls as controllable, make changes to reduce fall risk at home, and exercise to increase strength and balance.
  • In-person classes offered occasionally through collaborative effort of Stanford Health Care and other local organizations
  • Open to seniors 65 years+
  • Free

2 hours/week for 8-9 weeks


Sunnyvale - A Matter of Balance

Location: Sunnyvale Senior Center, 500 E Remington Dr., Sunnyvale, CA 94087

Contact: Trenton Hill, 408-730-7378

Notes:

  • A Matter of Balance emphasizes practical strategies to reduce fear of falling and increase activity levels. Learn change to the environment to reduce fall risk and exercises to increase strength and balance.
  • Class offered occasionally through Stanford Health Care Trauma Service
  • Free

Twice per week for 4 weeks


Outside Bay Area

Davis - Gaining Balance Workshops

Location: Davis Senior Center, 646 A St., Davis, CA 95616

Contact: Lisa DeAmicis, 530-757-5696

Notes:

  • Workshops offered quarterly
  • $40 for residents, $44 non-residents

One hour/week for 4 weeks


Davis - Balance Assessment

Location: Davis Senior Center, 646 A St., Davis, CA 95616

Contact: Reservations and Information, 530-757-5696

Offered every September and October


Merced County - Fall Prevention Program

Locations: Living Well Cafe locations in Dos Palos, Los Banos, Merced, and Planada

Contact: Merced County Human Services Area Agency on Aging, 209-385-7550

Notes: 

  • Free

Classes held occasionally


Modesto - A Matter of Balance

Location: Stanislaus County Library, 1500 I St., Modesto, CA 95354

Contact: Kim Viviano, master trainer, Healthy Aging Association, 209-523-2800

Notes: 

  • Emphasizes practical strategies to reduce fear of falling and increase activity levels. Learn to change environment to reduce fall risk. Exercise to increase strength and balance.
  • Class offered occasionally
  • Free

Two hours/week for 8 weeks