Fall prevention is identified by Safe Communities Wellington County as a priority in promoting health and safety.
With one in three older adults falling each year in Canada, Safe Communities, Victorian Order of Nurses (VON) Waterloo Wellington Dufferin, and family health teams from across the county are getting together to offer an informative video series during Falls Prevention Month in November.
“Falls prevention month is just creating awareness, about the prevalence of falls and what we can do to mitigate those risks of falling,” said Kelly Gee, program coordinator of the VON Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together (SMART) program.
“I think that when we can come together as a community and we have a number of organizations really pushing … to mitigate those risks to prevent those falls … I think that has a big impact.”
The goal is to create public awareness about the risks of falls and how to prevent them.
“Frailty is not inevitable; it is reversible and … everybody has the opportunity to make themselves safer and improve their quality of life,” said Gee.
Jena Docking, health promoter with the Upper Grand Family Health Team (UGFHT), explained falls can happen for many reasons, including medication, inner ear problems, vision loss, bone strength, nutrition, home safety and more.
Gee added the fear of falling can increase risk, as can the fear of not being able to get up after a fall. This topic is discussed in the fall prevention education.
Last year the organizations produced 12 modules about fall risks and prevention that were televised by Wightman Telecom and available through YouTube.
This year, the group is hosting a five-part series every Wednesday in November, covering various topics related to falls.
Topics will be presented through the Ontario Telemedicine Network, which will showcase various modules filmed and televised last year. Following the video, experts will be available to answer questions.
The series is open to everyone and registration is preferred.
The video series will be held every Wednesday at 10am at the following locations:
– Upper Grand Family Health Team, 753 Tower Street South, Fergus;
– VON, Unit 4, 392 Main Street North, Mount Forest;
– East Wellington Family Heath Team, 6 Thompson Crescent, Erin; and
– Minto-Mapleton Family Health Team, 11 Andrews Drive West, Drayton.
‘Legend of the fall’
The first topic, legend of the fall, will be featured on Nov. 1. It is an introductory module discussing the project, fall and injury statistics and the fall risk screening tool.
Experts include Gee and geriatric RN Julie Kerkhof of the UGFHT.
Nutrition
The second topic, nutrition, will be held on Nov. 8 and include dietitian Amy Waugh of the UGFHT. She will discuss how poor nutrition can increase the risk of falls and how other factors such as eating alone, lack of support with shopping and cooking, and limited access to transportation, can also increase the risk.
Arthritis
On Nov. 15, Susan McAuslan from Arthritis Society will discuss the increased incidence of falls among adults with arthritis. The topic will include risk factors, prevention and strategies to mitigate risk.
Home safety
The fourth topic, home, environment and fire safety, will include discussions from occupational therapist Amanda Froese from the UGFHT and Larry Bolen, chief training officer with Centre Wellington Fire and Rescue. Participants will learn about how to make the home safer to prevent falls.
Benefits of exercise
On Nov. 29, Docking and Rachel DeJonge, a kinesiologist with VON, will discuss the benefits of exercise to help increase balance. The ability to stay balanced incorporates the coordinated efforts of visual, vestibular and auditory inputs, say organizers. Participants will learn how to improve balance, get up from a fall and the exercises to prevent falls and injury.
To find out more or to register call 519-843-3947 ext. 118.
