Falls Prevention Awareness Day
WARSAW — On the 10th Anniversary of National Falls Prevention Awareness Day, the Kosciusko Community YMCA wants Kosciusko County residents to learn the risk factors of falls. Sept. 22, is National Falls Prevention Awareness Day, a day of action to help raise awareness and prevention of falls.
Each year, it’s estimated that one out of three Americans aged 65 or older will suffer a fall, leaving many of these adults with a fear of falling that can cause them to limit physical activities. This leads to reduced mobility and diminished quality of life, and actually increases their risk of falling. In addition, as the population ages, falls put an immense strain on the health care system, with the financial toll expected to reach $67.7 billion by 2020. The good news is that falls are preventable. With a focus on healthy aging, the Y is committed to helping older adults learn their fall risk and access programs that can help them reduce their risk for falls.
The first step to prevention is understanding risk. Older adults can assess their fall risk by taking a simple test at www.ymca.net/health-wb-fitness. Through this assessment, individuals can learn how routine activities and other factors help determine their risk for falls.
Once the risk is assessed, the next step is to take action. The Kosciusko Community YMCA is helping to improve the health and wellbeing of older adults across the country through programs like Enhance®Fitness.
Enhance®Fitness is geared toward anyone, but if you have a chronic condition, such as arthritis, you may gain strength and independence you thought were gone forever. Participants will feel energized – physically, mentally, and socially – and be surrounded by people who care about their success. The classes are designed to safely increase participants’ fitness levels through aerobic and strength training exercises while building a sense of community and social connectedness among class members. EnhanceFitness has proven to increase participants’ strength, balance, flexibility, mood, general activity level, and independence when they attend on a regular basis. EnhanceFitness is held 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Monday, Wednesday and Fridays.
One EnhanceFitness participant says, “Socially, I have made friends and am able to connect with others who have similar abilities and limitations as myself. Physically, I am so much more flexible and sturdy. My balance, strength and general well-being have improved.”
The CDC suggests these basic lifestyle and safety changes to help reduce risk or prevent falls:
- Begin an exercise program, like Enhance®Fitness or SilverSneakers ® to improve your leg strength & balance.
- Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medicines.
- Get annual eye check-ups & update your eyeglasses.
- Make your home safer by:
- Removing clutter and tripping hazards.
- Putting railings on all stairs and adding grab bars in the bathroom.
- Installing proper lighting, especially on stairs.
To learn more about the YMCA’s Healthy Living programs, please contact Stacy Thomas at (574) 269-9622 x216.