Each year, more than one in four older adults experience a fall and there are over 3 million emergency department visits for falls by older adults. Falling once not only doubles a person’s risk of falling again, but can lead to a decrease in daily activities due to fear of falling. (Facts About Falls | Older Adult Fall Prevention | CDC).
Fall Prevention Week will be occurring from September 22nd through September 26th to bring awareness to the danger of falling and how to prevent and reduce injuries. Prevention of falls plays a vital role in ensuring older adults can age independently and confidently in their home and community.
As we enter into this fall season, shorter days and poor lighting, blocked paths, and slippery walkways can all increase someone’s risk of falling in and around their home. The good news is that falls can be prevented!
The National Council on Aging provides 6 steps to prevent falls.
- Find a good balance and exercise program;
- Talk to your health care provider and ask for a fall risk assessment;
- Regularly review your medications with a doctor or pharmacist;
- Get your vision and hearing checked annually and update your eyeglasses;
- Keep your home safe by removing tripping hazards, increasing lighting, and installing grab bars;
- Talk to your family members and friends to enlist their support
We’re proud to partner with the Safe at Home program in DC, helping older adults and adults with disabilities safely remain in their homes. We also partner with TruBlue Home Service Ally of Vienna to provide Aging-in-Place and Accessibility Modifications for older adults in our Virginia jurisdictions. If you or a loved one are interested in making safety modifications to your home, please email Tori, Preservation and Repair Program Manager at tori.steele@habitatdcnova.org for additional information about our home repair program.
DC Falls Prevention Awareness Week, September 22-25, DC Universities
Falls Prevention Awareness Week will bring together DC agencies, local nonprofits, universities, and other community partners from across the region to host a series of engaging activities and screenings aimed at reducing fall risks for community-dwelling older adults residing in the District. On different days of the week, each university, their students, faculty, and community partners will lead a variety of interactive activities, fall risk assessments, and health screenings focused on identifying risk factors, promoting health and fitness, and educating participants on home safety and fall prevention strategies.
The event’s purpose is to raise awareness about the significant impact of falls on older adults’ health and to provide practical tools for mitigating these risks. By empowering participants with knowledge and resources gained through interprofessional collaboration, the week intends to enhance participants’ overall well-being, increase their confidence in daily activities, and ultimately hopes to reduce the incidence of falls in the community. The anticipated outcomes include greater awareness of fall risks and hazards contributing to a safer, stronger lifestyle for older adults living in Washington DC.
The Beacon Newspaper’s 50+ Expo, October 5th, Springfield, VA
The Beacon Newspaper serves as a resource for people over 50 and their loved ones. Free monthly print editions of paper are available at distribution sites across the Greater Washington area, in addition to online. Each fall, the Beacon presents the 50+ Expo in Maryland and Virginia. This year the expo will come to the Springfield Town Center on Sunday, October 5 and will run from noon to 4 p.m.
This free public event will provide health screenings and vaccines, topic speeches from a variety of experts, and information from government agencies, nonprofit organizations, employers and local businesses.