Falling is a serious risk for older adults in Vermont. It's also one that can be easily mitigated with specific preventative measures.
The Southeastern Vermont Medical Reserve Corps is a community-based network of volunteers focused on supporting local public health initiatives and emergency response efforts. Two of their volunteer physical therapists conduct fall clinics locally.
At these one-hour clinics, the therapists discuss "Why We Fall; What Should We Be Doing to Avoid Falling," including demonstrations, videos, and question and answer sessions. Specifically, the volunteers discuss risk factors, how to get up from a fall, selecting assistive devices, such as the correct cane height, and conduct a 30-second Chair Stand Test.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries for elderly Americans. One in four Americans aged 65 and older falls each year, with a fatality rate of 37%. The estimated medical cost of elderly falls in the U.S. is around $50 billion annually, encompassing both nonfatal and fatal falls, with the majority of this cost covered by Medicare and Medicaid.
The Southeastern Vermont Medical Reserve Corps invites partners to host and market their fall clinic presentation to their target audience and family members, as well as to staff. The presentation is offered free to organizations and individual participants. To host a presentation, or find out more about upcoming fall clinics, contact Pamela Corbett at [email protected].
The Southeastern Vermont Medical Reserve Corps and the Vermont Department of Health are collaborating members of the Windham Aging initiative, which provides the strategic vision for systemic change so that older residents of Windham County can age well.
To find out more about the Windham Aging initiative, visit windhamaging.com.
This Town and Village item was submitted to The Commons.