The Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) and the Shepherd Center are hosting Falls Prevention Awareness Day on Friday, Sept. 25 at the Shepherd Center. There will be free health screenings, fall risk assessments and fall prevention demonstrations, along with a free lunch for those who attend. The event is free and open to the public.
Wednesday marks the 8th Annual National Falls Prevention Awareness Day. This year’s theme is Take a Stand to Prevent Falls. Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injury to adults 65 years of age and older. Recent studies also suggest that falls may precede some symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. But, falls are not an inevitable part of aging.
Here are more details for the event:
WHO: Georgia Department of Public Health and Shepherd Center
WHAT: Falls Prevention Awareness Day, including free health screenings, fall risk
assessments and fall prevention demonstrations.
WHEN: Friday, September 25, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
WHERE: Shepherd Center, 2020 Peachtree Road NE, 7th Floor, Atlanta, GA 30309
RSVP: by calling (404) 350-7559 or email elizabeth.head@dph.ga.gov
People can RSVP up until 8 a.m. Friday morning.
The event is designed to be interactive and fun, while providing critical information to elderly individuals, their families and caretakers.
Elizabeth Head, of the Injury Prevention Program at Georgia Department of Public Health, said the day is focused on health screenings which can play a role in falls. The screenings include vision and hearing screenings; blood pressure/blood sugar screenings, bone density, and falls risk assessments done by physical therapists.
Vendors will also be on hand to provide demonstrations on group activity programs designed to reduce fall risk. They will include the following:
Tai Chi - exercise programs such as Tai Chi can increase strength and improve balance, making falls much less likely.
A Matter of Balance - an 8-week structured group intervention that emphasizes practical strategies to reduce fear of falling and increase activity levels. Participants learn to view falls and fear of falling as controllable, set realistic goals to increase activity, change their environment to reduce fall risk factors, and exercise to increase strength and balance.
Tango - tango dancing improves mobility and balance in older adults. It is composed of very simple step elements. It focuses on foot placement, whole body coordination, starting and stopping movement and the path or direction of movement.
Music Therapy – can help improve balance and gait.
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