September 18-22 is National Falls Prevention Awareness Week. All of us either have fallen or know someone who has. Falls can change lives, dramatically.
Per the Center for Disease Control (CDC), falls remain the leading cause of injury death for older Americans, threatening safety and independence, and generating enormous economic and personal costs.
CDC’s Injury Center data is startling. Every second of every day, an older adult (age 65+) falls in the U.S. More than one-fourth of Americans aged 65+ falls each year. Falls result in more than 3 million injuries treated in emergency departments annually, including over 800,000 hospitalizations and more than 32,000 deaths. Each year about $50 billion is spent on medical costs related to non-fatal fall injuries and $754 million is spent related to fatal falls.
Fortunately, most falls are preventable. This year’s Fall Prevention Awareness Week theme is “From Awareness to Action”. Six Action Steps are recommended. None are hard, all strengthen one’s personal defense against falls.
Step 1, find a good balance and exercise program. It’s amazing how much balance, strength and flexibility improvement is quickly attainable, no matter one’s fitness level. Tips from professionals as to what might help the most for you are invaluable.
Fitness centers, hospitals and clinics, senior centers and others hold pertinent classes regularly. The Campus for Creative Aging operates clinically proven Matter of Balance classes. There’s one going on right now in Buchanan. Call Julie Schwartz at 269-982-7759 for more information.
Step 2, talk to your health professional about your balance. Share your history of falls if relevant, and your concerns in general. You can ask for a risk assessment. Your health professional is your partner in health and can also assist with Step 3, which is regularly reviewing your medications with your doctor and pharmacist to make sure side effects aren’t increasing your risk of falling.
Step 4, get your vision and hearing checked annually. Both one’s eyes and ears play critical roles in balance and are often taken for granted.
Step 5, keep your home safe. This involves removing tripping hazards, increasing lighting, using nightlights, installing railings on all steps, installing grab rails in key areas, especially the bathroom. In my own home, I’ve replaced towel bars with decorative grab bars. It works great.
I’d add another piece to this step, keeping yourself safe. If your risk of falling is high, or your fear is high, use canes, walkers or scooters to adapt. Don’t sit back. Recognize these devices as tools of resilience, which they are – a means to continued vitality.
Step 6, talk to family members, enlist their support. Maybe wear a personal emergency response button that rings to family. Or program Alexa type technology to dial trusted family members when asked. Assistance with chores may be needed. Stay off ladders and step stools without handles. The National Council on Aging’s website at www.ncoa.org has more information on National Falls Prevention Awareness Week. Remember Region IV Area Agency on Aging’s Info-Line at 1-800-654-2810 is always a trusted source for community information and available services. Check out AAA’s website at www.areaagencyonaging.org.
This month, follow Region IV Area Agency on Aging’s Facebook page for regular tips on fall prevention. Find your best way to move “From Awareness to Action”. Your efforts will pay off.
Lynn Kellogg is former CEO of Region IV Area Agency on Aging in Southwest Michigan. Questions on age or independence services? Call the Info-Line for Aging & Disability at 800-654-2810 or visit areaagencyon aging.org. The Generations column appears each weekend in The Herald-Palladium.