Launched in 2013 by the Cleveland Foundation, Encore Cleveland helps to connect and fund a network of organizations to provide experienced Greater Clevelanders an array of meaningful opportunities in the community upon retirement or near the end of their primary careers. In our “Spotlight Encore Cleveland” guest blog series, we go behind-the-scenes to explore the many opportunities available through Encore Cleveland. Learn about Fairhill Partners’ Matter of Balance program in this guest blog from the organization:

“My get up and go came back,” said an 89-year-old woman after participating in a Matter of Balance (MOB) workshop. “I feel great and confident. Thank you so much.”

“We got so much for just the small investment of time,” said another participant.

Fairhill Partner’s evidence-based health promotion workshops (MOB, licensed by MaineHealth; Chronic Disease Self-Management (CDSM), Diabetes Self-Management (DSM), Chronic Pain Self-Management (CPSM), all licensed by Stanford University; and Tai Chi for Arthritis, endorsed by the Arthritis Foundation) would not be possible without the trained, committed and passionate Encore leaders and coaches who lead dozens of workshops for people aged 50+ at Fairhill Partners and other locations in Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain and Medina counties.

This MOB participant shared a common thought: “The leaders were very prepared in presenting the weekly materials. Both…were knowledgeable, had good communication skills and made the sessions enjoyable. I looked forward to attending each week.”

“I have found my passion,” said Betty Jones, an Encore CDSM leader/MOB coach. “I absolutely love volunteering, facilitating workshops and helping people from all walks of life…I’m more than grateful to the Fairhill Partners staff for supplying the vehicle to fuel my passion of helping others as well as myself.”

Thanks to our volunteers, we conducted successful Chronic Pain Self-Management Leader Trainings in 2016 and 2017 and have held some successful CPSM workshops. Our CPSM leaders were trained as CDSM leaders first and enthusiastically accepted the challenge of becoming certified in another Stanford program.

“The other workshops are so good I knew this would be well worth my time,” one said.

“I work with older adults, and this will help them gain power over chronic pain,” said another.

Our workshop leaders come from many different backgrounds. Some are Encore volunteers, and some are paid by another agency, which sees the value in evidence-based health promotion and sends its own staff members to training. Training is thorough, so leaders go to workshops knowing the material and that Fairhill Partners is there to support them.

“Volunteering as a co-leader for evidence-based health promotion workshops has given me a sense of purpose, mind-stretching challenges and goals. I’m engaged – socially, emotionally and mentally,” said Janet Hildebrandt, Encore CDSM leader/MOB coach.

Want to help people take charge of their health? We’d love to have you! For more information and a training schedule, visit our website, www.fairhillpartners.org; email us at programs@fairhillpartners.org; or call 216-421-1350.