Wednesday, January 22, 2014
Perth District Health Unit
Finding Balance Campaign Aims to Help Seniors Stay Active and Safe During the Winter Months
Winter weather is in full swing and falls among older adults are a big concern this time of year. Falls are the leading cause of serious injuries in older adults, and every year in Ontario one in three older adults will fall.
With a goal to prevent falls in seniors, a new campaign called Finding Balance is being launched by a coalition of healthcare professionals in the Southwest region. To start, the group has launched a website with resources and educational materials for seniors and healthcare professionals: www.findingbalanceontario.ca.
“Although falls are a real concern in general, the winter weather brings additional risk factors,” says Chera Longston, Public Health Promoter. “Finding Balance is aimed at encouraging older adults to watch their step and take extra care when things are snow-covered and icey.”
Research shows that falls are a serious and growing problem for Ontarians. In 2009, the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care reported over 26,000 injuries related to falls among seniors. “The costs to our health care system are significant, however, they are small when compared to the impact a fall has on the independence and quality of life of a senior citizen,” explains Longston.
Falls are caused by a complex and wide variety of factors and the risk of falling increases with age. The Finding Balance campaign focuses on educating seniors on proven interventions, such as improving health and fitness, making one’s home safer, reviewing medications and speaking up about dizziness.
Finding Balance was originally developed at the University of Alberta’s School of Public Health and has been adapted for use in Ontario. Finding Balance is guided by an Advisory Committee of multi-disciplinary healthcare professionals from all over Southwestern Ontario, including the Perth District Health Unit.
For more information:
Media Contact:
Rebecca Hill
Communications Manager
519-271-7600 ext 279
rhill@pdhu.on.ca
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