Village Shalom Wellness Center offers new machine to help seniors with balance

Joel Nichols

7:52 AM, Apr 5, 2018

More than 800,000 older Americans end up in the hospital every year because of falls. Village Shalom is trying to lower the number in our area with the iBalance machine.

One of the biggest dangers to seniors is falling. Village Shalom in Overland Park has a new machine to help seniors keep their balance.

Village Shalom has a machine that is designed to help seniors with balance and fall prevention.

Tim Hellhake - 41 Action News

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OVERLAND PARK, Kan. — Thursday morning, for a little while, Brita Horowitz was a penguin.

Not just any penguin, but a penguin on a mission: Scoop up as many fish as possible while schussing down a snowy hill.

But, this activity is not just fun and games.

It is vital to Horowitz’s health and her quality of life.

This is the brand new iBalance machine in the Wellness Center at Village Shalom in Overland Park.

Wellness Center Coordinator Patty Hill said this fitness gadget tests the balance of users and creates balance-improving exercises based on individual need.

There’s a large, colorful screen indicating results, and the “tests” are downright fun.

From something reminiscent of Pac-Man to the downhill fun of penguins and herring.

So, why is balance such an important thing for all people, perhaps, especially, the older folks among us?

Every year, one in four Americans 65 and older fall down, accounting for more than 800,000 hospitalizations.

Followed, all too often, by a long, painful road to recovery.

The Wellness Center is a way to stay fit and balanced, not just for the residents of Village Shalom, but for the community at large.

But, be warned, if there was an Olympics for the Penguin Downhill, Horowitz is on a gold-medal pace.