Community strength and balance (referral)

All practices in the Te Whatu Ora Taranaki region can refer to this service. 

Patients are eligible for community classes if they are:  

• identified as high risk of falls or having fallen or worry about falling 
• aged 65 years and older living within the Te Whatu Ora Taranaki boundary and meet criteria for publicly funded health services 
• aged 50-65 years can be referred if they meet the criteria and there are activities the person has stopped doing because they are
• afraid they might lose their balance, they worry about falling, and they use a mobility aid (primarily for outside assistance)  
• able to get to and participate in weekly classes (with chair support and seated options) 
• medically stable to safely participate in an exercise programme. 

• People in rest home or hospital care.
• People living dependently in an aged care facility. 
• People with severe cognitive impairment
• People receiving a personal care package. 

This is not a claimable service; this is a service that you can refer patients to as follows.

If the patient responds yes to one or more of the following.

• Have you fallen in the last year? 
• Are you scared of falling? 
• Have you stopped doing an activity because you might fall? 
• Do you need to use two hands to rise from a chair? 

Patients can either access classes directly in the community, or for those requiring additional support, referral can be made to this service through Green Prescription (Sport Taranaki). This referral can be made using the BPAC eReferral system.

The referrer can indicate their appropriate service recommendation along with the clinical indicators supporting this.  

Green Prescription will link the person with the most appropriate class following telephone assessment. 

A minimal cost (between $3-$5) may be charged to attend the weekly classes which will be discussed with the person when contacted by the service. 

This service is funded by ACC.