One Fall Could Lead to Another

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Roberta Bouer 212-996-0443 or Harriet Rosenberg 914-864-5651

ONE FALL COULD LEAD TO ANOTHER
Jewish Home Lifecare offers Preventive Measures to reduce the Chance of Unintentional Falls during any season!

New York, NY, October 5, 2010 — As the remaining leaves flutter off the trees and snow and icy pavement loom, the prospect of a different type of “fall” emerges. A slip and fall is a threat to the lives, independence and health of elders. Every 18 seconds, an older adult is treated in an emergency department for a fall. Every 35 minutes an elder dies as a result of his or her injury. Jewish Home Lifecare, a healthcare nonprofit that has been meeting the needs of New York’s elders for 160 years, recognizes that falling is a serious matter.

Susan Holodak, MS, director of the Jewish Home Lifecare Adult Day Health Care program recommends taking these precautions to reduce the chances of falling:

Start a regular exercise program.

Following an exercise regimen is one of the most significant ways to reduce the chances of falling. It strengthens your body and helps you feel better. Exercises that improve balance and coordination (like Tai Chi) are the most beneficial.
 Lack of physical activity leads to weakness and increases the chances of falling.
 Talk to your doctor or health care expert about the best type of exercise program tailored to your abilities and needs.

Create a Safer Home Environment.

Nearly 50% of all falls happen at home. Make your home safer with simple changes:
 Take away things you can trip over (such as books, papers, clothes, pet toys and shoes) from stairs and places where you walk.
 Small throw rugs should be removed or secured with double-sided tape to keep them from slipping.
 Reduce stepstool usage by making frequently used items more accessible.
 Install grab bars in the bathroom next to the toilet and in the tub or shower.
 Use non-slip mats in the bathtub and on shower floors.
 Make sure the lighting in your home is adequate. As we age, brighter lights are necessary to see well. Lamp shades or frosted bulbs will help diminish glare.
 Night time paths from the bedroom to the toilet should be kept clear and lit.
 All staircases should have handrails and ample lighting.
 Wear shoes that provide adequate support with non-slip soles. Wearing slippers and athletic shoes with deep treads should be avoided.
 Use walking aids which provide stability.

Ask your physician to review your medicines.

Your doctor or pharmacist should examine all the medicines you take (prescription drugs as well as non-prescription items such as cold medicines). Some medicines work differently as one ages, and the body changes. Certain prescriptions or combinations of medicines might make you drowsy or light-headed, which can lead to a fall.

Check your vision.

Have your eyes examined by an eye doctor. Your corrective prescription may have changed and you could be wearing the wrong glasses. Conditions such as glaucoma or cataracts limit your vision. Poor vision can add to your chances of falling.

BACKGROUND:
Jewish Home Lifecare has been meeting the needs of New York’s elders for 160 years. It provides a network of care that includes long-term skilled nursing care, short-stay rehabilitation, Alzheimer’s/Dementia special care communities, respite care, senior housing and community programs, such as home care and adult day care along with many other specialized services.

Jewish Home Lifecare, formerly known as the Jewish Home and Hospital Lifecare System, has campuses in the Bronx, Manhattan and Sarah Neuman Center in Westchester. It also serves clients where they live using innovative technology such as the award winning telehealth monitoring program. Best practice programs are offered in fall management, wound care, pain management, mental health and wellness.

For more information, visit www.Jewishhome.org

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