CARMEL, NY—Each year in September, the National Council on Aging, the Putnam County Office of Senior Resources and the health department join with countless organizations around the country to recognize Fall Prevention Week. This year the recognition week officially starts on September 18, but casting the spotlight on falls prevention among older adults is a year-long endeavor. 

“More than one-fourth of Americans aged 65 and older fall each year,” said Michael Cunningham, director of the Office for Senior Resources. “Unfortunately, these falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries among older adults.” These numbers come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, known as the CDC, and apply countrywide. “The important thing to remember is that falls are mostly preventable,” Mr. Cunningham added. “What’s needed is consideration and planning.” 

Interim Health Commissioner Michael J. Nesheiwat, MD, spoke about the public heath impact of frequent falls. “Three million emergency room visits, 800,000 hospitalizations and 32,000 deaths occur annually as a result of falls, and more than $50 billion is spent on medical costs related to non-fatal fall injuries,” said Dr. Nesheiwat. “The burden is not just limited to a patient’s pain and suffering. Along with the high cost of rehabilitation is a patient’s fear of future falling and a diminished quality of life. This can cause further physical decline, depression, social isolation, and feelings of helplessness. With the proper precautions in place, the risk of a fall can be reduced and outcomes improved.” 

One of the first things the fall-prevention experts advise is to find a good balance and exercise program. The Office for Senior Resources offers several to promote awareness of the risks related to falls and to provide seniors the tools to offset these risks. Among the evidence-based fall prevention programs they offer are A Matter of Balance, Tai Chi for Arthritis, and Bingocize^®. All these programs were developed at universities and results prove that participation can reduce fall risk. By providing access to these programs and others such as nutritious meals, the Office for Senior Resources reduces the impact that social determinants of health and resulting health disparities have on seniors. Ageism, and access to care and other resources are usually among the most notable factors affecting health equity among the seniors. 

This fall, as in recent years, the Office for Senior Resources will be hosting fall-prevention events at each of its four senior centers around the county—in Carmel, Mahopac, Philipstown, and Putnam Valley, with demonstrations on useful techniques and programs that any Putnam senior can access. Then on November 2, the office is holding its annual senior health fair in conjunction with Assemblyman Matt Slater at the William Koehler Memorial Senior Center in Mahopac. For more information on these classes or events, call 845-808-1700. 

Many older adults prefer to continue living at home as they age. Because more than half of all falls occur in the home it’s important to make the environment as safe as possible. There are quick and easy modifications to do this. The Office for Senior Resources and the Putnam County Department of Health team up to promote the following five tips, endorsed by the National Council of Aging: 

• Avoid slipping in the bath by using some sort of support, such as a shower seat or grab bar. 
• Ensure good visibility by replacing burned-out light bulbs with new bright, non-glare ones. 
• Avoid falls when dressing by sitting in a sturdy bedroom chair. 
• Avoid tripping by removing clutter and throw rugs. 
• Store frequently used items in easy-to-reach places, between waist and shoulder height. 

These ideas were developed and are available in a handout produced by the National Home Safety and Home Modification Work Group. More info is available here: www.bit.ly/NHSHMworkgoup. 

The mission of the Putnam County Office for Senior Resources is to stimulate, promote, coordinate, and administer local programs and services for older Putnam County residents. This includes providing senior center programs, nutritious lunches, transportation, home-delivered meals, recreation and other services that address the social determinants of health and support seniors living at home as independently as possible For more information, visit: https://putnamcountyny.gov/osr. 

The mission of the Putnam County Department of Health is to improve and protect the health of the Putnam County community. The department, nationally accredited by the Public Health Accreditation Board (PHAB), serves a community composed of nearly 100,000 residents. Core services are provided through a lens of equity, and include community health assessment, disease surveillance and control, emergency preparedness, environmental health protection, family health promotion and health education. For more information, please visit the County website at www.putnamcountyny.com, or visit our social media sites on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram @PutnamHealthNY.