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Don’t Let Falls Get You Down – November is Fall Prevention Month

It takes a community to prevent a fall. We all have a role to play!

Waterloo Region—Every day, 63 older adults in Ontario are hospitalized because of a fall1 and on average, 10 older adults visit the emergency department each day for falls in Waterloo Region.2 Falls are among the top causes of injury-related emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths in Waterloo Region.2-4 Falls can be disabling, cause mental distress, and even result in loss of independence. Falls also generate enormous economic costs. In 2010, falls cost Ontario’s economy $2.8 billion.5

The good news is most falls are preventable! 

Mary, a local resident of Kitchener, Ontario, experienced a traumatic fall which caused her existing health conditions to decline, and left her feeling depressed and afraid of falling again. Mary was able to change the path of her story when she realized falls can be prevented, and that there is a whole community ready to help her.

“Our lives have changed dramatically. I no longer feel depressed, dizzy, or afraid of falling. I am meeting new people and having fun participating in new activities. It is a whole new world for my husband and me”, said Mary.

Older adults are an especially vital part of our families and communities. That is why Public Health is spreading the message that November is Fall Prevention Month, and whether you are an older adult, caregiver, family member, or friend, we all have a role to play in preventing falls!

Fifty per cent of falls causing hospitalization happen at home.6 This November, Waterloo Region residents are encouraged to see their role in preventing falls, and keep safe from fall hazards within the home, by completing the Home Safety Checklist.

Fall Prevention Month Highlights

  • During Fall Prevention Month, a number of local organizations working with Public Health are also seeing their role in preventing falls:
  • Osteoporosis Canada is distributing Home Safety Checklists in their fracture clinics at Cambridge Memorial Hospital and Grand River Hospital during the month of November.
  • Sunnyside Seniors’ Services and K-W Seniors’ Day Program are promoting Fall Prevention Month through their newsletters.
  • Region of Waterloo Community Housing is planning a fall prevention challenge for residents of a number of the Community Housing locations.
  • Community Support Connections is hosting SMART™ program exercise classes and “Stand Up to Falls” wellness series.

Join the movement! Share on social media how you can play a role in preventing falls, using: #PreventFallsWR.

 

Mary’s Story

You can read Mary’s Story here.

 

Resources

For more information about falls and Fall Prevention Month, visit: http://chd.region.waterloo.on.ca/en/healthyLivingHealthProtection/preventingfallsolderadults.asp 

 

Media Contact:

Kirsten Keil-Mehlenbacher, Coordinator, Health Communications, Region of Waterloo Public Health and Emergency Services, 519-575-4400 ext. 2244  Kkeil-mehlenbacher@regionofwaterloo.ca 

 

References

  1. Parachute. (2010). Electronic Resource Allocation Tool (ERAT): Present value of Life-Time Costs of 2010 Unintentional Injuries, Canada. Toronto, ON: Parachute.
  2. Ambulatory Emergency External Cause (2011-2013), Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Date Extracted: January 20, 2014 & Population Estimates (2011-2013), Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Date Extracted April 20, 2015.
  3. Ambulatory Emergency External Cause (2012-2014), Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Date Extracted: June 15, 2015 & Population Estimates (2012, 2013), Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Date Extracted: April 20, 2015 & Population Projections (2014), Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Date Extracted: April 20, 2015.
  4. Ontario Mortality Data (2009-2011), Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Date Extracted: September 12, 2014 & Population Estimates (2009-2011), Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, IntelliHEALTH ONTARIO, Date Extracted: October 22, 2014.
  5. Parachute. (2015). The Cost of Injury in Canada. Toronto, ON: Parachute. Retrieved from: http://www.parachutecanada.org/downloads/research/Cost_of_Injury-2015.pdf
  6. Public Health Agency of Canada. (2015). You CAN prevent falls! [140471]. Retrieved from: http://www.phac-aspc.gc.ca/seniors-aines/alt-formats/pdf/publications/public/injury-blessure/prevent-eviter/prevent-eviter-e.pdf