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


Bay Area

Belmont - A Matter of Balance

Twin Pines Senior Center, 20 Twin Pines Lane, 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


Contra Costa County - Fall Prevention Program

In-home

Contact: Diablo Region Meals on Wheels, 925-937-831, and ask for the Fall Prevention Program.

Notes:

  • Free home assessment and home modifications to prevent falls and increase safety
  • A Matter of Balance fall prevention classes, offered periodically (in-person and virtually)

In home


Cupertino - A Matter of Balance

Cupertino Senior Center, 21251 Steven's Creek Blvd.

Contact: Cupertino Senior Center, 408-777-3380

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 and Stepping On

Little House, 800 Middle Ave.

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.
  • Stepping On 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, coping after a fall, and understanding how to initiate a medication review.
  • Classes are offered occasionally through a collaborative effort with Stanford Health Care
  • Open to seniors 60 years+
  • Free

2 hours/week for 7-8 weeks


Menlo Park - Strong for Life

Arrillaga Family Recreation Center, 700 Alma St. - Sequoia Room

Contact: Menlo Park Senior Center, 650-330-2280

Notes:

  • An exercise program designed to improve strength, function and balance in older adults with or without limitations by targeting specific muscles that are important in every day life such as getting out of a chair, walking, and picking up a grandchild.
  • Open to seniors 62 years+
  • Free. Donations requested
  • 12 week sessions, registration required
  • Offered through collaboration with Stanford Hospital

Fridays 10-11am


Mountain View - A Matter of Balance and Strong for Life

Mountain View Senior Center, 266 Escuela Ave.

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

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.
  • Strong for Life is an exercise program designed to improve strength, function and balance in older adults with or without limitations by targeting specific muscles that are important in every day life such as getting out of a chair, walking, and picking up a grandchild.
  • Classes are offered through Stanford Health Care
  • Open to seniors 60 years+
  • Free

A Matter of Balance

2 hours/week for 8 weeks


Strong for Life

Every Tuesday


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 at no charge to adults age 60 and older.

In home


Oakland - Fall Prevention Class

Virtual class with a live instructor via Zoom

Contact: Oakland Health Education Dept., 510-752-6150 ext. 1 

Notes:

  • Participants will learn the causes of falls, home safety tips, and exercises to improve balance and coordination.
  • Two hours with an instructor, online via Zoom
  • Free to Kaiser members and non-members over age 15

2 hours


Petaluma - Fall Prevention Program

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

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

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.
  • Occasionally offered in Spanish

2 hours/week for 8 weeks


Redwood City - A Matter of Balance

Sequoia Hospital Health & Wellness Center, 749 Brewster Ave.

Contact: Sequoia Health & Wellness Center, Janel Jurosky, 650-367-5101

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


San Carlos - A Matter of Balance

San Carlos Community Center, 601 Chestnut St.

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 Vilanueva, 415-550-2265, or Diana Lara, 415-550-2209

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

1 hour offered several times weekly


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 weekly for 12 weeks


San Francisco - Maintain Your Balance Lecture

California Pacific Medical Center, Davies Campus, Level B Auditorium

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

Notes:

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

2-hour interactive workshop led by physical therapist


San Jose - A Matter of Balance

Eastside Neighborhood Center, 2150 Alum Rock Ave.

Contact: Milton Cadena, Eastside Neighborhood Center - Catholic Charities, 408-251-0215

Notes:

  • 16 classes
  • 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 held occasionally


Sonoma County - Fall Prevention Program

Various locations throughout Sonoma County

Contact: Sonoma County Area Agency on Aging, mob@schsd.org, 707-565-5936

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.
  • Occasionally offered in Spanish

2 hours/week for 8 weeks


Stanford area - San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties - Farewell to Falls

In your home

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

Notes:

  • Age 65+ years
  • Requires willingness to follow an ongoing exercise regimen
  • Must live in an independent living situation
  • Free

2 home visits by an OT for assessment, medication review, home safety survey, fall reduction suggestions and exercise demonstration


Sunnyvale - A Matter of Balance

Sunnyvale Senior Center, 500 E. Remington Dr.

Contact: Gerard Manuel, 408-730-7365

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 through Stanford Health Care Trauma Service
  • Free

Twice weekly for 4 weeks


Sunnyvale - Gait & Balance Classes

The Parkinson's Institute, 675 Almanor Ave.

Contact: Gloria, The Parkinson's Institute, 408-734-2800

Notes:

  • Intermediate class: Wednesdays noon- 1pm; for those who need assistance to stand or walk
  • Intensive class: Wednesdays 10:30am-noon; for those not requiring assistance
  • 90-min exercise with trainer Jennifer Larsen
  • $12/class or 10-class pass for $100. Cash or check accepted.

Beginner class: Thursdays 10:30am-noon; for those who need assistance to stand or walk


Outside Bay Area

Ceres - A Matter of Balance

Ceres Community Center, 2791 4th St.

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


Davis - Gaining Balance Workshops

Davis Senior Center, 646 A St.

Contact: Lisa DeAmicis, Davis Senior Center, 530-757-5696

Notes:

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

One hour/week for 4 weeks


Davis - Balance Assessment

Davis Senior Center, 646 A St.

Contact: Reservations and Information, 530-757-5696

Offered every September and October


Merced County - Fall Prevention Program

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

Stanislaus County Library, 1500 I St.

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