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Falls Prevention

worried that you might fall?

TAKE ACTION & PREVENT A FALL

keep you and loved ones safe

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.

fall risk: know the facts

1 SECOND

An older adult falls every second of every day

1 IN 4

One in four older adults reported a fall in 2014

#1 CAUSE

Falls are the #1 cause of hip fractures.

LEARN TO STAY SAFE

falls prevention resources

eye care

CHECK YOUR VISION

Poor eyesight can lead to an increased chance of tripping, bumping into things and falling.


medication

REVIEW MEDICATION

Side effects from medicines can sometimes increase your chance of falling.

home safety

MAKE YOUR HOME SAFE

A cluttered or unorganized home can leave many items to trip, bump into or fall from.

exercise

START TO EXERCISE

weak muscles and joints can make you unsteady, increasing the chance of falling.

Falls Free Dane Coalition

OUR COALITION MEMBERS

Bill Huisheere

Chair, Falls Free Dane Coalition

cheryl

Cheryl Wittke

Executive Director, Safe Communities

Ashley Hillman

Falls Prevention Program Manager, Safe Communities

charlie

Charlie Daniel

African American Opioid Coalition Founder; Diversity & Inclusion Manager, Safe Communities

Falls Free Dane Coalition Members:

RESOURCES

related news

Elderly man and woman participating in yoga

Local Home Safety 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

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Elder black man stretching in park

Fall Prevention Classes: High Risk

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

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RECOVERY IS POSSIBLE

Treatment Key

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.