Free "Fall Prevention" Program for East Harlem Senior Citizens Kicks-Off on January 23, 2017

The Carter Burden Center for the Aging, a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the well-being of New Yorkers aged sixty and over, is launching a year-long program aimed at reducing the risk of falls for East Harlem seniors. Called Standing Tall, the program, which kicks-off at a recruitment event at Carter Burden’s Leonard Covello Senior Program on January 23, 2016, will offer educational discussions, risk assessments, helpful tips on how to prevent falls, free giveaways, refreshments and music. The Covello Program is located at 312 East 109th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenues.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of three older adults fall each year and less than half tell their doctors about the falls. Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries. In fact, recent research has found that the falls among seniors are a major concern in East Harlem. The survey conducted by the Visiting Nurse Service of New York for Carter Burden’s Covello Program, found that 40% percent of respondents said they fell in the past year and 44% of those individuals fell more than one time.

“The Carter Burden Center is committed to providing programs and services that improve the quality of life for older New Yorkers. Our Standing Tall initiative is an important part of this mission,” said William J. Dionne, Executive Director at CBCA. “Educating the seniors in our East Harlem community about fall prevention will help them live safely, independently, and with mobility for as long as possible.”

Standing Tall utilizes strategies from “Stepping On,” an evidence-based fall-prevention program. Among the elements of the program are strength and balance exercises, vision correction, safe footwear, medication management, and the removal of at-home safety hazards. Tested in a randomized trial, these strategies demonstrated a 31% reduction in falls.

Carter Burden’s year-long program will also provide eligible seniors activities that promote falls risk reduction; falls risk assessments; environmental assessments in the home; and home modification tools and services.

Among the environmental factors that contribute to falls are cords left on the apartment floor, slipping on rugs in the bathroom, and tripping on uneven sidewalks and potholes. Seniors at the Covello Program also identified the following factors as problematic: heavy neighborhood traffic; streets and sidewalks in need of repair; and insufficient street lighting.

To attend the free kick-off event or learn more about the many programs and services that Carter Burden offers, please email: ContactUs@carterburdencenter.org, or call 212-879-7400.

The event is made possible by the generous support of The Fan Fox and Leslie R. Samuels Foundation and the Florence V. Burden Foundation. The Carter Burden Center for the Aging is partially funded by a contract from the NYC Department for the Aging.

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About Carter Burden Center for the Aging: The Carter Burden Center for the Aging is dedicated to promoting the well-being of New Yorkers, aged sixty and over, through a full spectrum of services, advocacy and volunteer programs. The organizational mission is to promote the safety and dignity of seniors, many of whom are moderate to low income, by addressing issues of health, hunger, education, protection, community and culture. CBCA uplifts the lives of 5,000 seniors and their families every year, providing a critically important safety net as well as enriching the lives of those we serve.