Local connections to falls prevention!
September 7, 2021
While ALTCEW provides links to national resources, preventing falls is a local issue. The City of Spokane and Spokane Valley fire departments report that “older adult falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations and deaths in Spokane County. Falls-related Emergency Medical Service calls are the leading non-fire response-related calls in Spokane County.”
You can talk with people here, locally about your situation and falls prevention so you can stay independent.
- Falls Prevention staff members at ALTCEW. Call 509-458-2509 and ask for the Falls Prevention office to support you in creating your own falls prevention plan or to address your concerns about falling.
- Your healthcare providers. Talk with them about falls or unsteadiness, appropriate wellness checks (including eyesight and hearing), and your medications to reduce your risk of falling.
- Many others in eastern Washington who are invested in decreasing the number of falls older adults take and their consequences, for example instructors who present evidence-based programs such as Stay Active and Independent for Life (SAIL) and Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance.
Falls are NOT a normal part of aging. Even during this pandemic, you have many options. Make a plan and take healthy action to reduce your risk of falling while staying active, engaged, and independent.
