INDUSTRY INSIGHT
FALLING PREVENTION
SPONSORED CONTENT
Join Us for the Community
Falls Prevention Program
For more information about the Community Falls
Prevention Program, please contact Jane Gibson,
Director of Operations at Springhill, at 814.860.7021.
The Link Between
Aging and Falls
Community Falls Prevention Program
Aims to Help Erie Seniors
helps make you feel better. Regular eye exams are also a must. Staying
on top of your health and the risks associated with medications by
having routine visits with your doctor is critical.
Join the Falls Prevention Program
September 22 is National Falls Prevention Awareness Day, led by
the National Falls Prevention Resource Center – a part of the National
Council on Aging.
Springhill is proud to partner with the Department of Health
and other community organizations in offering a Community Falls
Prevention Program. We are encouraging people in the Erie area to join
us for community education, a falls screening evaluation and tips on
prevention. Springhill has also developed a Speakers Bureau comprised
of screening evaluations.
Patty Leuschen, Director of Sales & Marketing
Springhill
E
very 15 seconds, an older adult
receives emergency room treatment
for fall-related injuries, according to
the National Council on Aging. In addition
to broken bones, falls are a leading cause of traumatic brain injury in
seniors. Unfortunately, fall-related fatalities are an equally serious issue.
Not only can falls be devastating to the older adult and family
members, they are associated with a financial impact due to the direct
medical costs associated with treatment. The average hospital cost for
a fall injury is $35,000 and this cost increases with age. Follow-up care
can involve surgery, therapy in a rehabilitation center, and/or home care,
further adding to the cost.
What you can do to prevent falls
As we age, we experience a variety of health issues that increase our
risk of falling. Diabetic neuropathy can cause us to lose sensation in our
feet, decreasing our awareness of foot placement and the information
we obtain through normal sensation. Visual problems like cataracts
can decrease our safety without appropriate lighting and home safety
modifications. Medications can cause side effects like dizziness. In
addition, we face a decline in agility, balance and strength.
Exercise is one of the most important ways to reduce the risk of falling.
It increases strength; improves balance, coordination and flexibility; and
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