Ready, Steady, Balance: Prevent falls in 2016

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SIDNEY — Sept. 22 is National Falls Prevention Awareness Day and the Sidney-Shelby County YMCA is joining the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and the Falls Free Coalition for Ready, Steady, Balance: Prevent Falls in 2016, a day of action to help raise awareness and prevention of falls in Shelby County.

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.

“As a leading community-based organization dedicated to building a culture of health for all families, the Y is asking older adults, caregivers, family members and health care professionals to raise awareness and prevent falls in the older adult population,” said Ed Thomas, CEO, Sidney-Shelby County YMCA. “Falls are preventable, but when an older adult falls, it not only affects the individual but negatively impacts our families and communities.”

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 assessing risk, the next step is to take action. The Sidney-Shelby County YMCA is helping to improve the health and well-being of older adults across the country through programs like our Forever Fit class and our Aqua Senior Social class.

The CDC suggests these basic lifestyle and safety changes to help reduce risk or prevent falls:

• Begin an exercise program to improve your leg strength & balance.

• Ask your doctor or pharmacist to review your medicines.

• Get annual eye check-ups and 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 Sidney-Shelby County YMCA’s Healthy Living Programs, contact Julie McIntyre, Wellness Coordinator at 937-492-9134 or [email protected].

Suann Luedeke, YMCA fitness instructor, leads a group of seniors in the Forever Fit class.

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Suann Luedeke, YMCA fitness instructor, leads a group of seniors in the Forever Fit class. Courtesy photo

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