Each year, 3 million older people are treated in emergency departments for fall injuries. Each year, at least 300,000 older people are hospitalized for hip fractures. Falls can make it hard for a person to get around, do everyday activities or live on their own. Because serious injuries from falls are so prevalent, Randolph Health is conducting a Free Fall Prevention Clinic. This clinic will be broken into two available sessions: 1 – 2:30 p.m. and 3 – 4:30 p.m. Please only register for one session.
While 1 in 5 falls causes series injury – broken bones and/or head injuries, the good news is . . . falls can be prevented. There are some simple things you can do to keep yourself from falling: remove risk factors, strength training and have your eyes checked, for starters.
The Free Fall Prevention Clinic is designed to provide participants with some of the skills and resources needed to prevent falls. The clinic is broken into three different sections. The first section will be an educational overview on falls. The second section will be a personalized hands-on assessment with a physical therapist to assess individual risks for falls. The third section will include demonstrations by an expert clinic team on how to safely get up and recover from a fall.
Recent statics regarding elderly falls can be shocking:
- The risk of falling increases with age and is greater for women than men.
- Two-thirds of those who fall will do so again within six months.
- Among people aged 65 to 69, one out of every 200 falls results in a hip fracture.
- The most profound effect of falling is the loss of functioning associated with independent living.
You don’t have to live in fear of falling - register today to attend the Free Fall Prevention Clinic.