It's Falls Prevention Awareness Week!
September 18 to 22, 2023
Falls among older adults continue to be a national public health concern. Please join us in recognizing Falls Prevention Awareness Week, a nationwide observance with state coalitions and partners to raise awareness on preventing falls, reducing the risk of falls, and helping older adults live without fear of falling.
ThinkFirst to Prevent Falls
Prisma Health Richland Hospital is hosting two presentations this week on ThinkFirst to Prevent Falls. Learn to recognize your risk factors for falls and ways to prevent falls. Family caregivers are welcome to attend, too. This 1-hour class is free!
Dates:
Wednesday, Sept. 20, 6 - 7 p.m.
Thursday, Sept. 21, 2 - 3 p.m.
Location:
In-person at Prisma Health Richland campus, 9 Richland Medical Park Dr., Classroom 130
For more information, contact Lara Peck, Injury Prevention Coordinator, at Lara.Peck@PrismaHealth.org or 803-434-6231.
Falls Free CheckUp
It's important for older adults to understand their risk of falling. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) has a free online tool called the Falls Free CheckUp to help older adults check their risk for a fall.
The Falls Free CheckUp asks 13 simple questions and only takes a few minutes to complete. It can be completed by either the individual or a family member/caregiver on their behalf. The screening results include their falls risk score, steps to reduce their risk, and a downloadable report to share with a doctor.
6 Steps to Prevent a Fall:
Find a good balance and exercise program. Look to build balance, strength, and flexibility. Contact your local Area Agency on Aging for referrals. Find a program you like and take a friend.
Talk to your health care provider. Ask for an assessment of your risk of falling. Share your history of recent falls.
Regularly review your medications with your doctor or pharmacist. Make sure side effects aren’t increasing your risk of falling. Take medications only as prescribed.
Get your vision and hearing checked annually and update your eyeglasses. Your eyes and ears are key to keeping you on your feet.
Keep your home safe. Remove tripping hazards, increase lighting, make stairs safe, and install grab bars in key areas.
Talk to your family members. Enlist their support in taking simple steps to stay safe. Falls are not just a seniors’ issue.
From the National Council on Aging, learn more at ncoa.org.