News Release                                       For Immediate Release

September 12, 2003.

Want to attend a Victorian Tea?  Would you like a chance to wear your fancy hat?

Flesherton – The Community Coalition for the Prevention of Falls in Older Adults along with Creative Career Systems, the Owen Sound Brockton Focus Project and local volunteers are hosting a Victorian Tea.  This event will be held on Thursday October 2 at 2:00 PM in the Flesherton Kinplex located beside the arena at the south of end of Flesherton on Highway 10.

Local celebrity hostess, Dinah Christie will introduce Helen Bishop MacDonald, Director of Nutrition from the Dairy Farmers of Canada.  MacDonald is a known crowd-pleaser who spoke at last year's successful Manulife Osteoporosis Bone China Tea in Walkerton.  Linda Yenssen will provide background music.

An additional attraction this year is the hat display by milliner Rose Blasing.  Choose to wear your own special hat, gloves or dress from a bygone era, and you may win a prize.  Enjoy the exhibits while learning what can be done to help prevent falls and live a healthier lifestyle.

Preventing injuries from falls in older adults is a serious concern in our two counties.  The overall provincial average of the population age 65 and older is 13% while Grey and Bruce Counties are 17% and 18% respectively.  We consistently have a high rate of hospitalization from falls.  Frail older adults are much more at risk of repeat falls because of the deconditioning that happens with lack of exercise.

Over the past few months, a group of agency representatives have been meeting at the Community Care Access Centre to plan implementation of the Home Support Exercise Program, designed specifically for frail older adults.  Personal Support Workers attended training workshops in Owen Sound and Walkerton during September.  They will now encourage clients during regular visits to do a simple, progressive set of ten exercises to promote leg strength, balance and flexibility.  The Canadian Centre for Activity and Aging successfully piloted this program in Alberta, London and Oxford County.  Funds raised at the tea will be used to help make the program a success.  For information contact Marguerite Thomas, Grey Bruce Health Unit, 881-1920 EXT 246 or visit our web site at www.publichealthgreybruce.on.ca.

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For more information:

Marguerite Thomas, RN BScN

Injury Prevention Program

Grey Bruce Health Unit

881-1920 EXT 246.