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5MARCH2015BODYOFCHRISTNEWSDoyouknowsomeonewhohasfallenrecentlyOrhaveyouslippedandfelllatelyMarch8throughMarch14isPatientSafetyAwarenessWeek.AccordingtotheCenterforDiseaseControlCDCfallsarethenumberonesourceofnonfatalinjuriesamongolderadultsthose65orolder.Eachyearoneineverythreeseniorsfallsbutlessthanhalftalktotheirhealthcareprovidersabouttheincident.Fallscancausemoderatetosevereinjuriessuchashiplegankleupperarmandhandfractureswhichcanmakeithardforolderadultstogetaroundorliveindependently.Manyseniorswhofalleveniftheyarenotinjureddevelopafearoffallingwhichmaycausethemtolimittheiractivitiesleadingtoreducedmobilityandlossofphysicalfitnesswhichinturnincreasestheiractualriskoffalling.In20092.2millionnonfatalfallinjuriesamongolderadultsweretreatedinemergencydepartmentsandmorethan581000ofthesepatientswerehospitalized.Thechancesoffallingandofbeingseriouslyinjuredinafallincreasewithage.In2009therateoffallinjuriesforadults85andolderwasalmostfourtimesthatforadults65to74.Peopleage75andolderthatfellwerefourtofivetimesmorelikelythanthoseage65to74tobeadmittedtoalong-termcarefacilityforayearorlonger.Fortunatelyfallsarelargelypreventable.Thereareseveralwaystoreducethechancesoffallingwhichincludeexercisingreviewingmedicationsannualeyeexamsandmakingyourhomesafer.Exercisingregularisagreatwaytoreducethechancesoffalling.Exercisingimprovesbalanceandcoordination.Askyourdoctororpharmacisttoreviewyourmedicinesi.e.prescriptionandover-thecountertoidentifymedicinesthatmaycausesideeffectsorinteractionssuchasdizzinessordrowsiness.AlsobesuretotakeinadequateamountscalciumandvitaminDfromfoodandorfromsupplements.Getscreenedandtreatedforosteoporosis.Haveyoureyescheckedbyaneyedoctorannuallyandupdateyoureyeglassestomaximizevision.Makeyourhomessaferbyreducingtrippinghazardsaddinggrabbarsinsideandoutsidethetuborshowerandnexttothetoiletaddingstairrailingsandimprovingthelightinginyourhome.InParkHillthereareseveralresourcestohelpwithpreventingfallsonesuchplaceistheZionSeniorCenterlocatedat5151E.33rdAveDenverCO80207.TheZionSeniorCenterisaplacewhereseniorscanmeettogetherreceiveservicesandparticipateinactivitiesthatwillenhancetheirdignityandsupporttheirindependence.ServicesofferedatthecenterincludelowimpactfitnessexercisestaughtbyR.U.A.ProFitnessforasmalldonationandfallpreventionworkshopstaughtbytheCenterforAfricanAmericanHealth.FormoreinformationonprogramsofferedattheZionSeniorCentercall303-333-5746.Ifyoushouldfindyourselfinsituationwhereyouneedshortorlong-termrehabilitationfromaninjuredsustainedfromafallForestStreetCompassionateCareCentera24hourAfricanAmericanskillednursingfacilitycanhelpyouontheroadtorecoveryandregainingyourindependence.ForestStreetoffersafullspectrumofrehabilitationservicesincludingphysicaloccupationalspeechandrespiratorytherapies.PatientswhoreturnhomefollowingrehabilitationatForestStreetCompassionateCareCenterreceiveahomeevaluationtoassesstheneedfordurablemedicalequipmenttoinsureasuccessfulandsafereturnhome.FormoreinformationonForestStreetCompassionateCareCenterpleasevisitthefacilityat3345ForestStreetDenverCO80207orvisitwww.forestst.orgorcall303.393.7600ByMayaWheelerUnintentionalFallsMayaWheelerELDERCAREIn20092.2millionnonfatalfallinjuriesamongolderadultsweretreatedinemergencydepartmentsandmorethan581000ofthesepatientswerehospitalized.