Fall Prevention Awareness Week. Ready, Steady, Balance: Prevent Falls in 2016

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one third of adults 65 and older fall each year, resulting in injuries or even death. To help prevent these occurrences at home, the CDC provides the following tips:

• Ask someone to arrange your furniture to allow a clear path through each room.
• Always keep objects off the floor.
• Remove or secure throw rugs (with double-sided tape or a non-slip backing).
• Coil or tape cords and wires next to the wall so you can’t trip over them.
• If lighting is insufficient, have an electrician install an overhead light and wall switch at the top and bottom of the stairs.
• Put a non-slip rubber mat or self-stick strips on the floor of the tub or shower.
• Use nightlights in hallways and other rooms.
• Speak to your doctor or pharmacist about your medications to identify any that could make you sleepy or dizzy.

In an effort to prevent injuries resulting from falls, CHS continues to partner with the Suffolk County Health Department to offer a Fall Prevention Program across Long Island. Called Stepping On, the free seven-week program provides assessments and techniques to avoid falls at home or elsewhere.

“Working with the Suffolk County Department of Health, CHS has been afforded the opportunity for several of our key falls prevention staff members to become Stepping On trained leaders,” explained CHS Vice President of Care Management and Performance Improvement Anna ten Napel. “These trained leaders allow for an increased penetration of the Stepping On course in the community, achieving the goal of helping to better educate Long Islanders on ways to prevent falls and stay healthy at home.”

Please call 1-855-CHS-4500 for more information.