From Classroom to Community: EOU Balance Class Focuses on Fall Prevention

From Classroom to Community: EOU Balance Class Focuses on Fall Prevention

LA GRANDE, Ore. – Inside the Fieldhouse at Eastern Oregon University, EOU junior Bella Henneke guides a group of older adults as they work through a balance exercise. The junior Health and Human Performance major watches as participants shift their weight, steady themselves, and try again. It’s simple on the surface, but not easy.

The Balance Class is a collaboration between Eastern Oregon University and Grande Ronde Hospital. Held twice a week during the spring term, it brings together students, health professionals, and community members with a shared goal: improving stability and helping prevent falls.

The idea started with Dean of EOU’s College of Science, Technology, Mathematics and Health Sciences Darren Dutto, and continues under the direction of Jackie Morgan, instructor in the Health Science department. It builds on the partnership between the University and the hospital, blending classroom learning with real interaction in the community.

“This is a great student experience,” Morgan said. “A lot of our students are thinking about working in allied health fields. This gives them a chance to work directly with the community.”

Students begin the term learning the basics of balance and mobility. By the second week, community members join them in the Fieldhouse. From there, the class becomes active and hands-on. Students help with assessments and guide participants through a series of stations that mix physical movement with small mental challenges.

Corrine Dutto, a physical therapist with Grande Ronde Hospital, said the space makes a difference. “We can do a lot more in here than we could in a conference room,” she said. “The goal is to prevent falls and provide education, but it’s also about giving students real experience working with a population they may not otherwise interact with.”

That interaction is part of what keeps people coming back. Students gain experience, but they also get to know the participants, many of whom return each week.

For Henneke, that connection stands out. “It’s a really good opportunity to help people and immerse myself in the community,” she said. “I also love being around the people and seeing them enjoy the class.”

The program runs without a formal budget, relying on flyers, word of mouth, and support from the hospital to spread the word. Even so, participation has stayed steady, and organizers hope to continue offering the class each spring.

Morgan sees it as a simple idea with lasting impact. “It brings together students, the University, and the community in a meaningful way,” she said.

Around the room, participants move from one station to the next. Nearby, students watch and encourage one another, building skills they’ll carry into their careers, shaped by moments just like these.