Seniors learning to avoid falls through new health unit program
Falling is the No.1 injury that sends older people to hospital
A new program at health units across northeastern Ontario aims to change a troubling statistic that shows 1,200 seniors from the region were admitted to hospital because they fell.
A free, 12-week workshop is helping seniors learn to prevent falls by removing hazards in their homes and wearing proper shoes.
They work to strengthen their balance, feet and toes.
And they're taught how to get themselves up if they do fall.
"We know once they do suffer a fall, it really has a significant impact on their independence," she said.
"We want older adults to stay in their home for as long possible. We don't want them to be admitted to hospital."
Glenn Yurich, who loves to dance with her grandchildren, stopped abruptly a few years ago.
"We were dancing to this tune, and doing a little bit of a polka, and when I turned, I fell," she recalled.
"The two children saw me go down. And they started to cry."
Yurich vowed to never fall again and signed up for the program, called "Stand Up." She said she's gained new confidence now that she is stronger on her feet — even though she was skeptical at first when she was asked to stand on one foot or pick up marbles with her toes.
Now — "I can climb stairs, I can walk on my tippy toes, I can do a lot more things."
And Yurich is back to dancing with her grandchildren.
"I hope by taking this, that I would never fall again in front of my grandchildren," she said.
"I feel much better about knowing that [I'm] stronger on [my] feet."
"Stand Up" is the exercise component of the bigger initiative called "Stay On Your Feet." The NE LHIN is investing $500,000 annually over three years to support Stay On Your Feet initiatives.
"Stay On Your Feet" fast facts:
- One in three people over 65 fall each year
- 90 per cent of hip fractures are due to a fall
- 20 per cent of those aged 65+ die within a year of a hip fracture
- 40 per cent of nursing home admissions are the results of falls
Tap here for more health unit information on how to prevent falls.
Corrections
- A previous version of this story stated that each public health unit will receive $500,000 over the next three years, which was incorrect. All five health units will each receive $100,000 per year for three years which totals $500,000 per year.Nov 19, 2015 10:32 AM ET