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Health & Fitness

For seniors and their caregivers, fall prevention is a must

For seniors, falls are a very serious matter.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one out of three adults 65 and older will fall each year. For those 65 and older, falls are the leading cause of injury and death, and they are the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma. In 2010, $28.2 billion dollars were spent for nonfatal fall injuries and 82 percents of fall deaths were among people 65 and old.

Falls can also cause emotional strain for seniors. Those who fall, even if not seriously injured, develop a fear of falling. "Fear of Falling in Older Persons" a report written by Dr. Alan M. Jette and sponsored by Philips Lifeline describes how this fear causes people to limit their activities and reduces their mobility, causing loss of physical fitness, which in turn increasing the actual risk of falling.

To help seniors and their caregivers prevent falls, Griffin Hospital and The Agency on Aging of South Central CT will host a fall prevention program on Friday, March 7 from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

This program will help prevent falls by:

  • Assessing your risk for falls
  • Teaching and practicing exercises to improve balance and leg strength
  • Providing a medication review
  • Encouraging annual eye exams
  • Teaching ways to reduce tripping hazards at home

A light breakfast will be provided by Griffin Hospital Lifeline. Please RSVP with Daun at 203.732.7584 or dbarrett@griffinhealth.org.
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