Falls Prevention Day

September 22 is not just the autumn equinox, but it is also nationally recognized as Falls Prevention Day. This year's theme is 10 Years Standing Together to Prevent Falls. The goal of this event is to raise awareness about how to prevent fall-related injuries among older adults.

According to the National Council on Aging:

• 1 in 4 Americans aged 65 and over fall each year
• Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 19 minutes an older adult dies from a fall.
• The financial toll for older adult falls is expected to increase as the population ages and may reach $67.7 billion by 2020
• The death rate due to unintentional falls in Wisconsin is twice the national average

The good news is that falls are preventable. Here are some tips to decrease your chances of falling:

• Keep your home safe by removing tripping hazards, increase lighting around the house, make stairs safe and install grab bars in key areas.
• Be aware of your surroundings by getting your vision and hearing checked annually and updating your eyeglasses.
• Regularly review your medications why doctor/pharmacist to make sure the side effects will not increase your risk of falling.
• Talk to your health care provider and ask for an assessment of your risk of falling.

If you or a loved one feels there is a risk of falling, Community Care is hosting a free falls prevention workshop Tuesday, October 10 at 1801 Dolphin Drive. The informational workshop will be led by Director of Rehab Services Kelly Schroeder who has been professionally practicing physical therapy for over ten years. Light refreshments will be provided, but please feel free to bring a lunch. RSVPs are appreciated but not required. For more information about the falls prevention workshop, please contact Maurice Hughes at Maurice.Hughes@communitycareinc.org or at (262) 207-9381.

The statistics were provided by the National Council on Aging and the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.