The Jefferson County Public Health Service and the Watertown Housing Authority have teamed up to offer fall-prevention classes, beginning next week.

Jefferson County Health Planner Faith E. Lustik said the agency’s home health care staff offered a similar program at its Meade Street offices last year, but team members wanted to go out into the community.

“We wanted to reach people who couldn’t come to us — the most vulnerable population of people,” Ms. Lustik said. They include disabled or elderly residents of the housing authority’s Hilltop, LeRay and Midtown apartment complexes.

Ms. Lustik said the six-week educational seminars should help Watertown Housing Authority residents reduce their risk of falling. Last year, she said, ambulance squads responded to 1,652 reports of falls throughout Jefferson County.

The fall-prevention classes are offered free of charge, as funding for the project comes from the Office of Women’s Health. While both men and women may participate in the program, there will be a presentation on a women’s health issue at the end of each session, according to a news release.

A therapy team will be led by Amanda Mower, occupational therapist. Topics will include medication management, Tai Chi fitness for seniors, vision assessment and home safety.

Residents should register for each session by signing up in the lobby of their complex or by calling Ms. Lustik at 786-3723. She also is looking for more community agencies to partner with to offer more fall-prevention workshops.

For more information about home health care services, visit the Jefferson County Public Health Service website, www.jcphs.org.

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