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Senior News March, 2003 Vol. 22. No. 3
Published by the Humboldt Senior Resource Center in Eureka, California. HSRC is a non-profit community-based organization offering services for senior citizens, multi-generational families and caregivers.
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Humboldt Senior Resource Center Back issues Table of Contents
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No More Falls Project helps seniors stay healthy longer by Mary McKenzie One out of three people among Americans older than 65 years falls each year. Of those who fall, 20 to 30 percent suffer injuries that reduce mobility and independence and increase the risk of premature death. The immediate annual financial impact of these falls was estimated in 1994 to be more than $20 billion, with no estimates on the cost of long-term disability associated with falls. As the population of seniors grows, so too will the financial impact of falls. With the projected nursing shortage, where will people find care? Where will the money come from? Weighing these issues, the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, the University of California at San Francisco, and the California Dept. of Health Services have asked the question-can a fall be prevented? What if, instead of one out of three falling, we could - through prevention - reduce that number to one out of four or one out of six? Everyone would benefit. From this logic a research project was born. Chosen to represent the rural senior population, Humboldt's Preventive Health Care for the Aging Program of the county's public health services is in the process of enrolling 276 senior volunteers recruited from the senior clinics throughout the county (see clinic schedule p. 13). All volunteers agree to record and report their fall experiences for 12 months. Half of these volunteers are then randomly selected to receive additional services: a special evaluation and fall prevention teaching by a public health nurse and assistance in locating and correcting home safety hazards. This same group is also encouraged to adopt an exercise program since strength and balance are key in preventing falls. The Health Department also invites each senior volunteer to meet privately with a physical therapist to create an individual exercise plan. At the end of the study the numbers will be scrutinized. Did things like teaching, exercise or a new step stool make any difference in reducing the number of falls? Do statistics from our sister-county in this study (San Diego) match ours? Do rural seniors fall more often than urban seniors? We'll have to let you know. Mary McKenzie is the Public Health Nurse in charge of the No More Falls program. You can call the program at 707-268-2107 to schedule an appointment. |
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