Care Connection for Aging Services will observe Falls Prevention Awareness Week with a new online tool to help older adults in West Central Missouri. Fall Prevention Awareness Week will take place from Monday, September 20 to September 25.
The agency is partnering with the National Council on Aging (NCOA) to call attention to a new online assessment tool available at no cost to individuals.
Visitors can visit www.ncoa.org/FallsFreeCheckUp to complete a 12-question survey that screens them for the most common falls risk factors.
Executive Director Diana Hoemann says, “Center leaders in all our counties will distribute information about falls prevention during the week, as we work to provide older adults with opportunities to stay healthy and independent.”
According to a news release, one in four older Americans will experience a fall this year, with the cost for such accidents estimated to soar to more than $101 billion by 2030. The CDC reports such falls account for 3 million injuries requiring emergency department visits, and 800,000 hospitalizations.
Tips from the NCOA for older adults include:
- Find a good balance and exercise program.
- Talk to your health care provider. Ask for an assessment of your risk of falling. Share your history of recent falls.
- Regularly review your medications with your doctor or pharmacist. Make sure side effects are not increasing your risk of falling. Take medications only as prescribed.
- Get your vision and hearing checked annually and update your eyeglasses. Your eyes and ears are key to keeping you on your feet.
- Keep your home safe. Remove tripping hazards, increase lighting, make stairs safe, and install grab bars in key areas.
- Talk to your family members and enlist their support in taking simple steps to stay safe.
Care Connection for Aging Services is a non-profit area agency on aging serving people age 60 and older in 13 West Central Missouri counties. Counties in the KMMO listening area includes, Carroll, Chariton, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis and Saline.
For more information, visit www.goaging.org or call (800) 748-7826.