A new program offered by three Franklin County senior centers aims to prevent falls injuries among older adults.
Mid-East Area Agency on Aging (MEAAA) will launch its “Steady as You Go” falls prevention initiative at the St. Clair Senior Center, 510 Park Ave., 636-629-2187, on Mar. 17.
Additional programs will be held on Mar. 18 at the Sullivan Senior Center, 730 West Main St., 573-468-3766; and Mar. 25 at the Washington Senior Center, 1459 West Fifth St., 636-239-3374.
These free events will raise awareness about what older adults can do to reduce their risk of falling.
Each event will include free screenings for blood pressure, blood sugar, pulse oxygen, bone density, vertigo and balance. Professionals will provide individual medication reviews and answer questions on Medicaid spend-down requirements.
Falls are not an inevitable part of aging. Most falls can be prevented with these five steps:
1. Remove trip hazards and make your home safer.
2. Have your vision checked annually.
3. Exercise regularly.
4. Have a professional review your medications.
5. Improve the lighting in your home.
Many Missourians are unaware of the serious consequences of falls among older adults. Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths among Missourians age 65 and older. They cause almost two-thirds of all unintentional injury deaths.
Falls also are the leading cause of unintentional injury-related emergency room visits, hospital admissions and premature nursing home admissions among older Missourians.
In Missouri, 95 percent of hip fractures are caused by falls. Only half of Missouri’s seniors hospitalized for hip fractures are able to return home or live independently after the injury. Nearly half of fall injuries among Missouri seniors occur at home.
To register for “Steady As You Go,” and to reserve lunch immediately after the event, contact the applicable center at the numbers listed above. Everyone age 60 and older is invited.
Be sure to bring a bag with all of your current medications for a discussion with a pharmacist. Dress comfortably and wear comfortable shoes so you can have your gait and balance tested by the physical therapist.
Partnering with MEAAA in this initiative are Strauser Drugs and Mederi Caretenders. .
Mid-East Area Agency on Aging is a non-profit organization providing services and information for people age 60 and older and their caregivers in the counties of St. Louis, St. Charles, Franklin and Jefferson.