TAKE ACTION & PREVENT A FALL
Have you fallen, or are you worried that you might fall? Are you concerned that a friend, loved one or client is at risk? If so, you are not alone. Falls can happen anytime and anyplace, but most often they occur at home during everyday activities. The good news is that falls are NOT a normal part of aging and CAN be prevented.
It’s important to look at what might trigger a fall for you or someone you care about.
Check out this Falls Risk Survey from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention:
If you have 4 or more points, contact your healthcare provider for a complete falls risk screening, and check the links below for resources that can help you or someone you care about stay safe and independent.
After you’ve completed the checklist, make sure to take advantage of the available resources, such as falls prevention classes, to help you or someone you care about stay safe and independent. Some suggestions are below.
An older adult falls every second of every day
Source: www.cdc.gov/steadi
One in four older adults reported a fall in 2014
Falls are the #1 cause of hip fractures.
LEARN TO STAY SAFE
CHECK YOUR VISION
Poor eyesight can lead to an increased chance of tripping, bumping into things and falling.
REVIEW MEDICATION
Side effects from medicines can sometimes increase your chance of falling.
MAKE YOUR HOME SAFE
A cluttered or unorganized home can leave many items to trip, bump into or fall from.
START TO EXERCISE
weak muscles and joints can make you unsteady, increasing the chance of falling.
OUR COALITION MEMBERS
Chair, Falls Free Dane Coalition
Executive Director, Safe Communities
Falls Prevention Program Manager, Safe Communities
African American Opioid Coalition Founder; Diversity & Inclusion Manager, Safe Communities
RESOURCES
Home Safety Resources: Safety Checklist from the CDC (PDF) SSM Health Medical Equipment 4639 Hammersley Road Madison, WI 53711 (800) 924-2273 https://www.homehealthunited.org/home-medical-equipment All our retail stores have an extensive supply
Lately as we look out of our windows, we see the beauty of winter: glistening trees covered in ice and a white blanket of snow covering what was once green.
Referral to Physical Therapy You may want to consider a physical therapist, preferably one with special training on older adult falls. Many physical therapists are trained to find out why
RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE
Safe communities has complied a list of abbreviation definitions for finding the right treatment for you.
MAT: Medication for Addiction Treatment.
OP: Outpatient Treatment – person lives at home or in the community, attends. individual and group therapy, these can include or not include MAT.
IOP: Intensive Outpatient Treatment – person lives at home or in the community, attends individual and extended groups, 9-12 hours a week.
Residential: person lives at the facility for a period of at least 14 days, some last as many as 45 days.
PHP: Partial Hospitalization Program is a structured mental health treatment program that runs for several hours each day, three to five days per week.
DBT: Dialectical behavior therapy is a form of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) that integrates mindfulness techniques.
