News

Local connections to falls prevention!

September 1, 2020

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.  You can connect with:

  • Falls Prevention staff members at ALTCEW. Call 458-2509 and ask for the A Matter of Balance office to support you in creating your own falls prevention plan or to address your fear of falling.
  • Spokane Regional Health District (SRHD). At https://srhd.org/health-topics/injury-violence-safety/falls-prevention, SRHD discusses risk factors and prevention tips.  Their overview includes a link to “Stay Active & Independent for Life (SAIL): An Information Guide for Adults 65+” from Washington State’s Dept. of Health.  It also includes a link to Steady as We Go, a mapping of older adult-oriented fitness classes in Spokane County and eastern Washington offered by the Spokane Regional Health District at https://srhd.org/steady-as-we-go.  “From aquatics to Zumba, it’s all the classes offered throughout the area. Don’t want to look at a map? Give Steady as We Go a call at 509.324.1527 and staff will help to find a class near you.”
  • 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 are invested in decreasing the number of falls older adults take and their consequences.

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 and engaged.