Event Highlights Need to Reduce Injuries and Fatalities Caused by Falling
The National Council on Aging reports that every 14 seconds an older adult is treated in an emergency department for a falls related injury. Forty percent of people who enter a nursing home had a fall in the previous 30 days. And every 29 minutes an older adult dies from a fall.
Those are sobering statistics but falls, and the injuries they can cause, can be prevented, said Kristine Wiegman, volunteer and prevention program coordinator with the Waupaca County Dept. of Health & Human Services/Aging & Disability Resource Center.
Adults can learn about falls prevention and other tips at a free educational event from 9-11 a.m. on Thurs, Sept. 3 at the Waupaca Senior Center. “September is National Falls Prevention Month,” said Wiegman. “This is a free event open to all adults who want to learn how to prevent a fall and possible injury. Caregivers are highly encouraged to attend as well.”
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, 1 in 3 people age 65 and older fall each year. “Falls are the leading cause of fractures, hospitalizations for trauma, loss of independence and injury deaths among older adults,” said Wiegman.
Topics covered during the event, co-sponsored by ThedaCare, include community safety, medication management and an exercise demonstration. A representative from the Office of the Blind & Visually Impaired will also be available to answer questions pertaining to vision concerns. A door prize drawing will conclude the event. There will also be balance screenings, blood pressure checks and walker and cane evaluations at no cost. ThedaCare is co-sponsoring the event. It is among a collaboration of agencies called Teaming for Health and Resiliency Improvement Via Education and Support, or THRIVES, offering free classes like Stepping On.
Registration for the Falls Prevention Awareness event is not necessary, however, participants are encouraged to arrive before 8:45 am for the welcome by Waupaca Mayor Brian Smith.
For more information about the Falls Prevention Awareness event, call Kristine Wiegman at (715) 258-6277.
There will also be a Stepping On class from 9-11 a.m. on Tuesdays starting October 6 through November 17. The free 7-week workshop is offered through the Teaming for Health and Resiliency Improvement Via Education and Support, or THRIVES. It teaches exercises and strategies to reduce falling. To register, call ThedaCare Central Scheduling: 920-738-6521 option 1, or visit the ThedaCare Web site at www.thedacare.org.
For more than 100 years, ThedaCare™ has been committed to finding a better way to deliver serious and complex healthcare to patients throughout Northeast Wisconsin. The organization serves over 200,000 patients annually and employs more than 6,800 healthcare professionals throughout the region. ThedaCare has seven hospitals located in Appleton, Neenah, Berlin, Waupaca, Shawano, New London and Wild Rose as well as 35 clinics in 14 counties. ThedaCare is the first in Wisconsin to be a Mayo Clinic Care Network Member, giving our specialists the ability to consult with Mayo Clinic experts on a patient’s care. ThedaCare is a non-profit healthcare organization with a level II trauma center, comprehensive cancer treatment, stroke and cardiac programs as well as a foundation dedicated to community service. Construction of ThedaCare Regional Cancer Center in Appleton and ThedaCare Medical Center – Shawano is underway. For more information, visit www.thedacare.org or follow ThedaCare on Facebook and Twitter.
