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| First Day of Fall Reminds Us of Fall Awareness | |||||
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Falls are a serious matter and can be deadly. It is not unusual for an elderly person to fall, followed by a downward spiral of health complications over several months, often leading to death. Arizona, along with 20 other states, will call attention to fall prevention during National Fall Prevention Awareness Day on Sept. 22, the first day of fall. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), falls are the leading cause of injury deaths among older adults. The CDC also estimates that fall-related treatment costs will reach $43.8 billion annually by 2020 if the current rate of falls among this population is not reduced. In 2008, 651 deaths from fall-related injuries occurred among Arizonans age 65 and older, a 47 percent increase over the number of fall-related deaths among the same age group in 2000. A 2008 Piper Trust grant established the Fall Prevention Coalition through the Governor�s Advisory Council on Aging that coordinates organizational efforts to focus on three fall prevention measures for older adults: exercise and mobility, home modification and medication management. Exercise and Mobility Exercise helps mobility, flexibility and balance at any age. "We work with a high risk population," said Jason Wright, director of senior living at Mesa Good Shepherd Villa. "Many of the folks we work with have fallen already and some have a high fear of falling again which leads them to not get up and move around. Exercise helps older adults regain their physical ability and enjoy life again by doing those activities they haven�t done in years." Virgil, a 95-year-old Valley resident, began reluctantly participating in the exercise program at Mesa Good Shepherd Villa in November 2003. During his first assessment, he was not able to get up out of a chair without assistance and relied on a motorized chair for mobility. As a result of consistent exercise and his commitment to health, Virgil is now more mobile, walking instead of using his motorized chair, and generally enjoying better health than when he arrived. Mesa Good Shepherd Villa is one of several Valley organizations that provide balance training, strength exercise and physical mobility classes to help older adults feel better, prevent falls and help them stay independent. Home Modification Six out of 10 falls occur in homes which typically contain hazards such as loose throw rugs, lack of supports and grab bars, and obstructed pathways. Since June 2007, Rebuilding Together has retrofitted residences for 527 Valley older adults through the Senior Fall Prevention Service. The service provides potentially lifesaving equipment including:
"Older adults want to live in their homes for as long as they can," said Dennis Flynn, executive director of Rebuilding Together. The organization�s biggest challenge is convincing them to modify their homes. "For many elderly people there is a stigma associated with having grab bars in your house." Flynn said that some older adults do not want grab bars because their children, who may inherit or need to sell the home, will have to deal with removing these appliances. "Modifying a home stops the chain of events that can lead to a broken hip or head injury caused by going through a sliding glass shower door," said Flynn. For a Rebuilding Together story about Pauline, click here. Medication management Some medications and combinations of drugs can cause unsteadiness and dizziness. In 2008, researchers at the University of North Carolina published a lengthy list of prescription drugs that increase the risk of falling among older patients. According to the National Institute on Aging (NIA), people age 65 and older take more prescription and over-the-counter medicines than any other age group putting them at high risk for medication-related problems. Ensuring medicine is stored properly, has not expired and is taken appropriately is key to keeping older adults healthy and fall-free. Links Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
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