NUMC Offers Free Tai Chi Classes in Various Communities as Program to Prevent or Reduce Elderly Falls

Victor F. Politi, MD, FACP, FACEP                                                                                           Michael B. Mirotznik, Esq.,

President/CEO                                                                                                                              Chairman Board of Directors
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 28, 2016

PRESS CONTACT:

Shelley Lotenberg

shelley@numc.edu

516-572-6055

East Meadow, NY………In collaboration with the New York State Department of Health, Nassau University Medical Center (NUMC)  offers free Tai Chi program in various communities throughout Nassau County and in various senior facilities. Tai Chi is an evidenced-based fall prevention program that the NYS Dept. of Health has partnered with trauma centers on Long island, such as NUMC, to help stem the number of elderly falls that occur very frequently. Tai Chi helps with balance, stress and pain, and the statistics show that it helps prevents falls. Classes are held two times per week, with each session lasting approximately one hour, for eight weeks. The only criteria needed for this program is that the participants must be over 60 years of age, or over 18 years of age with a disability.  The class size ranges from 10-20 participants.

If you are interested in providing a Tai Chi program in your community/facility, please contact Marvin Berg, RN, Injury Prevention Coordinator at NUMC, at (516) 296-2277, or email at mberg@numc.edu.

What is Tai Chi?

Originating in ancient China, tai chi is an effective exercise for health of mind and body. Although an art with great depth of knowledge and skill, it can be easy to learn and soon delivers its health benefits. For many, it continues as a lifetime journey. There are many styles and forms of tai chi, the major ones being Chen, Yang, Wu, another Wu (actually two different words in Chinese) and Sun. Each style has its own unique features, although most styles share similar essential principles.

These essential principles include the mind being integrated with the body; fluidity of movement; control of breathing; and mental concentration. The central focus is to enable the qi or life force to flow smoothly and powerfully throughout the body. Total harmony of the inner and outer self comes from the integration of mind and body, achieved through the ongoing practice of tai chi.

ABOUT NUHEALTH
NuHealth is a Long Island health care organization delivering essential medical care and disease and lifestyle management to everyone at every stage of life.  Also known as Nassau Health Care Corporation, NuHealth is a public benefit corporation managing the operations of Nassau Medical Center, A. Holly Patterson Extended Care and a network of Family Health Centers that bring primary and specialty care out into the community.  By emphasizing wellness, cultural sensitivity and collaborative efforts with the North Shore-LIJ Health System, NuHealth is working to make good care more affordable and easier to access.

For more information about NuHealth or its Centers of Care, visit www.nuhealth.net.