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Coalition Receives New Grant |
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Written by Mike Taigman
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Monday, 11 August 2008 |
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Area Agency on Aging of Pasco-Pinellas, Inc. Beverly Burton, (727) 570-9696, x 253
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LOCAL COALITION RECEIVES NEW GRANT TO HELP SENIORS PREVENT FALLS Pinellas County, Florida - August 8, 2008 - The Area Agency on Aging of Pasco- Pinellas, Inc. (AAAPP), on behalf of the Pinellas County Fall Prevention Coalition, has received a grant from the State of Florida for $27,801 to conduct training throughout the county that will assist seniors with balance and strength in order to prevent falls. Falls are the #1 reason for calls to 911 in Pinellas County, and are the leading cause of injury death and hospitalizations for residents 65 and over. Because 21% of the population in Pinellas County is over 65 years of age, falls place a high burden on local citizens, EMS services, and the health care system. Until this grant, no funds have been dedicated to addressing this critical issue, but this grant allows the Coalition to offer FREE classes in an effort to reduce the risk of falls. AAAPP will hire Lori Whittle, Certified Balance & Mobility Specialist with Balance Basics in Sarasota, who will train community leaders to teach classes for seniors. The train-the-trainer sessions will be offered at no cost and will be held at a variety of Pinellas locations starting in September. The trainers will then teach classes to seniors throughout Pinellas County beginning in January 2009. Two types of classes will be offered. One two session class will instruct trainers on how to lead exercises that increase balance and strength in order to prevent falls. This class will focus on various levels of mobility. The other two-hour class enables trainers to do presentations on fall prevention, balance and safety tips and how to get up from a fall. Train-the-trainer participants are expected from local senior centers, Assisted Living Facilities, churches and other faith-based organizations, and various other municipalities, organizations, and businesses that serve seniors in Pinellas County. Train-the-trainer classes are available in September, October, and November. The schedule of classes and registration is available through the Senior Helpline at 727-217-8111.For more information go to www.agingcarefl.org/aging/falls2/fall-grant. |
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Last Updated ( Monday, 18 August 2008 )
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Stand Up for Fall Prevention |
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Written by Mike Taigman
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Monday, 27 November 2006 |
New Stand Up Fall-Prevention Class
In the current fall prevention class, participants learn how to improve their balance. (Photo: Wayne Hiltz)
Local seniors who have a fear of falling at home now have the chance to
take a class to prevent just that from happening. Starting two months
ago and continuing next January, the Town's Recreation department now
offers a new fall-prevention program called Stand Up.
Community nurse Sylvia Adams recently found out about the subsidized
program when local CLSC staff asked if they would be willing to start
it here so that local seniors could benefit from it. "It's one major
area to address with anyone of us when we're getting older."
"It's really important to try to help people feel safer and know that
they are likely a little safer as far as their balance and mobility is
concerned," she explained. "If people have fears of falling, they may
not go out and participate socially as much as they can."
Lasting for 12 weeks, there are two classes per week, one in French and
one in English. The teacher is Catherine Liu, a certified
physiotherapist. The class consists first of going over tips on how to
prevent falls in certain rooms, such as the kitchen or bathroom, and
making sure they know what medications they are taking and whether any
natural health products may contraindicate them.
Participants then undertake a series of group exercises that are
designed to help them improve their balance, flexibility, and mobility
as well as muscular strength and bone density. They are also encouraged
to continue that exercise at home. When they come back to the class,
the teacher can check how they are doing them and correct any faults in
their application.
Current participants were quite pleased with Liu. Irene said she has
already learned not to overreach for objects and also not to rush so
much since many accidents happen at that time.
Huguette described it as an "excellent" class that she would encourage
many persons to take. As a former teachers' trainer, she found the
instructor very dynamic and knowledgeable and the class itself well
organized.
"The teacher is interested in each student and encourages everyone with
positive remarks," she added. Another woman, Eddie, said the class is
always interesting and the instructor "really gives herself completely.
I hope that they will continue with her."
"It's really important to try to help people feel safer and know that
they are likely a little safer a far as their balance and mobility is
concerned."
- Community nurse Sylvia Adams
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Last Updated ( Monday, 27 November 2006 )
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Written by Mike Taigman
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Monday, 27 November 2006 |
November 20, 2006 — The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) has reported in the November 17 issue of the Morbidity and
Mortality Weekly Report on the increased rate of fatal falls among
elderly men; the increased prevalence of self-reported fair/poor health
among young diabetics aged 18 to 44 years; and the increasing
likelihood of overweight in children and young adults aged 2 to 19
years.
Prevalence of Fall-Related Mortality Remains Higher in Elderly Men
A CDC analysis of vital statistics data has revealed that although the
mortality rate for falls has increased significantly among elderly men
and women aged 65 years or older, men remain more likely than women to
die from falls.
Study results showed that from 1993 to 2003, the age-adjusted death
rate for falls increased by 45.3% among elderly men and 59.5% among
women of the same age group (P < .01 for both), but the mortality
rate from falls remained higher for men vs women in 2003 (46.2 per
100,000 population vs 31.1 per 100,000 population).
According to the CDC, the increase in overall fatal falls may be linked
to increased life expectancy (1993, 75.5 years vs 2003, 77.6 years)
that results in a larger proportion of older adults living with chronic
diseases that render them at increased risk and vulnerability to
fall-related injuries.
Results also showed that although the annual rate for hip-fracture
hospitalization rates was 52% to 119% higher for women than men during
1993-2003, it declined significantly by 20.8% (P < .01) for women
while remaining relatively stable in men (increase, 5.7%; P = .53)
during this period (overall decrease, 15.5%; P = .001). The widespread
use of osteoporosis screening and effective treatments for rebuilding
bone mass may have been a strong determinant for this disparity between
the sexes.
The CDC notes that whereas men have greater bone mass and are therefore
at decreased risk for fracture compared with women, the increased rate
of fatal falls suggests that osteoporosis screening and treatment
programs may need to be broadened to include men.
Recommended interventions to reduce the risk for falls among elderly
individuals of both sexes include regular exercise, a medication review
to decrease contributory adverse events and interactions, annual eye
examinations, and limiting fall hazards in the home.
Additional risk reduction information, including a step-by-step,
room-by-room guide to identify and repair home safety hazards, are
available online in English, Spanish, and Chinese at
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/toolkit/brochures.htm. Further
information regarding CDC fall prevention activities may also be
obtained online at http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/pub-res/toolkit/toolkit.htm.
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Last Updated ( Monday, 27 November 2006 )
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