National Fall Prevention Awareness Day

Strong Today, Falls Free® Tomorrow

Date: September 23, 2014

The 7th annual Falls Prevention Awareness Day will be observed on September 23, 2014—the first day of fall. This year’s theme, Strong Today, Falls Free® Tomorrow, seeks to raise awareness about how to prevent fall-related injuries among older adults.

Falls Prevention Awareness Day was first observed in 2008 and has grown in participation in the event from 11 states to 47 states and the District of Columbia.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:

• One-third of Americans aged 65+ falls each year.
• Every 14 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; every 29 minutes, an older adult dies following a fall.
• Falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults.
• Falls result in more than 2.4 million injuries treated in emergency departments annually, including over 772,000 hospitalizations and more than 21,700 deaths.
• In 2012, the total cost of fall injuries was over $36 billion.
• The financial toll for older adult falls is expected to increase as the population ages and may reach $59.6 billion by 2020.

Falls with or without injury also carry a heavy quality of life impact. A growing number of older adults fear falling and, as a result, self-limit activities and social engagements. This can result in further physical decline, depression, social isolation, and feelings of helplessness.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Education…Education…Education…

The therapists at Montero Therapy Services, PLLC @MonteroTherapy will be volunteering time throughout the Fall season to local communities to educate seniors and their caregivers about fall prevention.  YOU can do the same in your community. Resources are available at www.APTA.org, www.NYPTA.org or  www.ncoa.org

Together….we can make a difference!

In YOUR Corner,

Dolores