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In implementing the project, we wanted to draw attention to the physical, mental and social health of the elderly. Taking care of well-being and health prevention, we decided to encourage adults t...

In implementing the project, we wanted to draw attention to the physical, mental and social health of the elderly. Taking care of well-being and health prevention, we decided to encourage adults to juggle as an alternative form of participation in physical activity. In order to achieve the above goals, we set three goals. The first was to promote the role of senior leaders from the University of the Third Age in the education of the elderly. The second goal was to provide new solutions for conducting physical activities that prevent falls, which are one of the major geriatric problems. The third goal was to prepare a manual containing a training program that will serve as a compendium of knowledge needed to conduct physical workshops, using preparatory exercises for juggling, focused on improving motor coordination and cognitive functions, and will provide the most important information on preventing falls in the elderly.

During the project, the main activities undertaken were: 1. Juggling classes, conducted during a 12-week training. The training included classes led by an instructor, which took place once a week, and homework - exercises described on specially prepared exercise cards, performed individually during five days of the week (Monday to Friday). The training was intended to engage and motivate seniors to exercise, increasing their level of physical activity and to teach the methodology of conducting juggling exercises and to prepare them to conduct classes for adults, with particular emphasis on seniors. In order to check the effects of the training, tests assessing cognitive functions, a one-legged standing test to check balance and assessment of the risk of falling were conducted before and after the exercises. 2. A juggling training manual for adults was created in paper and electronic versions, which is a compendium of knowledge needed to conduct juggling classes.

The planned and achieved result is the fact that senior leaders have acquired knowledge and skills to conduct classes using the methodology of teaching preparatory exercises for juggling, in order to conduct classes preventing falls for seniors, including students of other UTW. Another result was the creation of the handbook “Exercise and Maintain Balance, and You Will Be Able to Do More”, which is intended to support trainers in teaching juggling exercises and can be used by other people interested in juggling to learn this physical activity, which serves to prevent falls.The involvement of senior leaders in the process of creating the publication, presentation of exercises, participation in the photo session and recordings, and the deliberate use of digital technology contributed to making the process of their education more attractive, and thus to increasing the competences of senior leaders in the process of documentation and creation of the manual. The project resulted in a huge interest in juggling training in Silesia and beyond, as well as the establishment of the Open Academy at the Academy of Physical Education in Katowice, which will bring together children, youth and adults,with particular emphasis on seniors.