Fall is just around the corner, but falls shouldn’t be just around the corner for older adults. The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), along with the National Council on Aging (NCOA) is celebrating the ninth annual Falls Prevention Awareness Day on September 22. Ready, Steady, Balance: Prevent Falls 2016 will highlight three goals that all older adults have the power to achieve:
Nationally, falls are the leading cause of non-fatal injuries treated in hospital emergency rooms in every age group except 15-24 years. Falls are the leading cause of injury death among adults 65 years and older. Every year in Oklahoma, about 7,000 older adults are hospitalized and more than 450 die from a fall. Acute care hospital charges alone total more than $250 million dollars a year.
The Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance program has been proven to reduce the risk of falls. In Oklahoma, many individuals have been trained as Tai Chi instructors and teach classes around the state to older adults. This exercise program focuses on improving functional abilities such as, balance and physical function to reduce fall-related risks and frequency of falls. Oklahoma seniors are invited to join a local Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance class.
To receive more information on the classes and how to prevent falls, contact the OSDH Injury Prevention Service at (405) 271-3430 or visit http://falls.health.ok.gov.
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Last Modified on
Jun 03, 2022