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Age-Friendly Gray New Gloucester partnered with MaineHealth to train leaders to offer Matter of Balance. Pictured, leaders and participants from the first class
In the seemingly vast lake of older adult programming, one time-tested, evidence-based program has remained an effective tool for reducing the fear of falling and promoting older adult activity. This class, A Matter of Balance (MOB), can be offered in Maine communities in partnership with MaineHealth and, it can even be done virtually!
Program History
Program History
The initial MOB program was developed and tested in the 1990s at Boston University’s Roybal Center with healthcare professionals leading classes. In 2003, MaineHealth’s Partnership for Healthy Aging, Southern Maine Agency on Aging, the University of Southern Maine and Maine Medical Center received grant funding to move the program to a lay leader model, reducing the program’s cost and increasing its availability- A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns about Falls Lay Leader model was born. Then, in 2021, MaineHealth’s Partnership for Healthy Aging created a virtual class option (MOB-V) continuing to use lay leaders but through an online platform versus the traditional in-person meeting. As of April 2026, there were 9 cohorts of AMOB running through Maine Health, 5 of which are online.
Class Description
Class Description
The program consists of 8 classes or 9 for the virtual option which adds “Session Zero”- a class dedicated to setting participants up for success using the online platform, basically a “how-to” session. Classes are held once a week and are led by trained coaches (lay leaders) and have 8 to 12 participants. Activities include group discussions, mutual problem-solving, role-playing activities, assertiveness training, home safety evaluation, and exercises that improve strength, coordination and balance, while having fun!
How Can I or My Community Participate?
How Can I or My Community Participate?
With remote classes, many people who are traditionally left out can now participate without the worry of inclement weather, transportation barriers, caregiving responsibilities or leaving their own home. The difference in participant outcomes between remote and in-person shows little to no difference in a recent study with remote participants actually attending more classes on average than in-person participants. In fact, Kirsten Dorsey, National Program Director for A Matter of Balance at Maine Health, has found many distant attendees make comparable social connections as their in-person counterparts.
If your community or organization would like to host A Matter of Balance, MaineHealth will work with you to obtain a license and train your Master Trainer (at least one Master Trainer is required per licensee) plus develop a program that is right for your site. Licenses are $500 and are valid for 3 years; after that 3-year licenses are $300. Master Trainer education is a one-time cost of $2,065 and each Master Trainer can train up to 12 lay leaders.
Contact Maine Health by reaching out to them at (207) 661-3762 or email: amob@mainehealth.org. You can also visit their website for more information!
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