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.
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
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
