Have you ever fallen? Sure! We all have! We have all had a trip, fall, or tumble, and while falls are a normal part of life from the start of learning to walk, falls are also a significant public health concern, particularly among older adults. In Vermont, statistics indicate that falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths for seniors. According to the Vermont Department of Health, approximately 1 in 4 older adults experience a fall each year, and this number is expected to rise as the population ages. Falls can lead to severe injuries such as fractures, head trauma, and even death. In addition, the financial burden of falls is substantial. It’s estimated that fall-related injuries cost Vermont’s healthcare system millions of dollars annually, not to mention the personal costs to individuals and families.
In Vermont, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals that falls account for over 80% of all injury-related hospitalizations among older adults. The state has seen an increase in fall-related emergency room visits over the past decade. Specifically, between 2015 and 2020, there was a reported increase of nearly 30% in fall-related injuries among individuals aged 65 and older. This alarming trend underscores the urgent need for effective fall prevention strategies. Thankfully, research also shows that fall prevention programs can significantly reduce the incidence of falls among older adults. These programs often include multifaceted approaches such as exercise regimens focused on strength and balance training, home safety assessments, medication reviews, and education about fall risks. For instance, studies have demonstrated that participating in structured exercise programs like yoga, Tai Chi, and other strength training have shown up to a 40% reduction in falls.
Here at The Wellness Center, we hope to share in the successful initiatives to improve strength and balance through our traditional programming and our annual FREE FALL EVENT. To further combat this pressing issue, we invite everyone to participate in our FREE Fall Prevention event on Monday, September 30th at The Wellness Center, starting at 1 PM. This engaging event will feature bingo games, personalized balance reports, outdoor balance safety tips, and much more! Attendees will have opportunities to win prizes and receive giveaways including free recipes and valuable information on maintaining safety at home.
This event is hosted by The Wellness Center in collaboration with North Country Hospital Rehab Services, the Northeast Kingdom Council on Aging, and the Vermont Department of Health. We encourage everyone interested in learning more about fall prevention strategies to register by emailing mhoadley@ncshi.org or leaving a message at 802-334-5566 regarding how many people will attend.
Participating in this event will give you essential knowledge about preventing falls while enjoying a fun community atmosphere filled with prizes and helpful resources! You’ll also learn more about where you are today and what might be your biggest risk and your biggest success! You may find you are in a great place with your strength, but your balance isn’t where you’d like it and that is something you want to focus on. Or you may find that while your strength and balance are testing well, you’re tripping a lot at home due to throw rugs or a step that needs repair, all things that sometimes we don’t think about until we are in a place of concern or after a fall has happened.
Fall prevention is critical for maintaining health and independence among all people but especially our older adults in Vermont. With effective programs proven to reduce falls combined with community engagement initiatives like our upcoming event, we can work together toward creating safer environments for everyone. We also know that winter is upon us and slips, trips and falls become a greater concern, making now the exact right time to take all the right steps toward safeguarding yourself against falls. In addition to our event, we welcome anyone to join us at noon on Tuesday or Thursday through October 15th to try a Free Tai Chi or Chair Yoga class to see if that might also be something that might help you become more confident in your body.
September is fall prevention month. Here are the facts and multiple free resources for everyone to stay safe and prevent falls all year long! Now it’s up to you! Will you take the steps towards safety? We hope the answer is yes and we will see you soon at our Free Fall Event!