News Release/Media Advisory

                                                            March 16, 2009

Maintaining Your Independence- Focus Group and Fall Prevention Screening

 “Your chance of dying from a hip fracture secondary to a fall is actually higher than your chance of dying from a heart attach at your age. So, a hip fracture is actually more serious than heart attacks in the elderly.” Dr. Kim McKenzie, MD, FRCP (C), Geriatrician at Royal Victoria Hospital, Medical Specialist at the Stroke Prevention Clinic and the Healthy Aging Support and Education (HASE) Team

Falls are the leading cause of injury among seniors, accounting for 59% of injury-related Emergency Room visits in Ontario. Between April 2006 to March 2007, 645 patients over the age of 65, with a fracture, were admitted to the Emergency Department at Grey Bruce Health Services.

Maintaining Your Independence, presented by the Grey Bruce Health Unit and the Grey Bruce Falls Prevention and Intervention Program, offers a free luncheon and discussion of the risks associated with falls in our seniors’ population.

The event will bring together local residents who are concerned about their risk of having a fall. A focus group will examine falls and their relationship to the public environment using a Community Audit designed around the principles of an age-friendly community and the prevention of falls in public places. The focus group will help identify age-friendly features, age-friendly barriers and fall risk potential in the community as well as suggestions for improvements. Participants will be asked to comment on six topic areas: 1) Transportation; 2) Public Buildings and Spaces; 3) Access; 4) Safety and Security;

5) Policy; 6) Sidewalks, Pathways, Trails and Stairs.

Maintaining Your Independence luncheons take place:

March 25, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.,

Royal Canadian Legion, 505 Scott Street, Walkerton, Ontario

March 26, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.,

Royal Canadian Legion, 1450 2^nd Ave West, Owen Sound, Ontario

Keynote speakers will discuss the Fall Prevention Program and the Aging at Home Strategy here in Grey Bruce:

• Lynda Bumstead, RD, MHSc., Program Manager, Chronic Disease Prevention, Grey Bruce Health Unit
• Mary Solomon, MRSc., Coordinator, Grey Bruce District Stroke Centre, Grey Bruce Health Services

The event includes static displays from various health care organizations and providers, along with representatives from some of these groups to answer questions. Participants include Osteoporosis Canada, CNIB, VON Grey-Bruce, Closing the Gap Healthcare Group, Community Coalition for the Prevention of Falls in Older Adults, Alzheimer’s Society, Arthritis Society and Machall Mobility Products.

An age-friendly community ensures a culture of inclusion for people of all ages and abilities with policies, services and structures designed to enable older people to “age actively,” live in security, enjoy good health and continue to participate fully in society.

The insights and ideas of seniors will assist in the creation of practical tools that will promote respect and dignity, support the wellbeing of seniors, and value their important contributions to the community.

Participants will receive a personal falls risk self-assessment tool along with take home bags, door prizes and a complimentary lunch.

Attachments:

Fact Sheet - Seniors’ Falls 

Seniors’ Falls - Grey Bruce Statistics 

For more information:

Sarah Milne

Health Promoter, Chronic Disease Prevention

Grey Bruce Falls Prevention and Intervention Program

Grey Bruce Health Unit

519-376-9420 or 1-800-263-3456 ext.1528