News Release/Media Advisory                    

                                                                                                                For Immediate Release

                                                                                                                September 30, 2009

Maintaining Your Independence- Falls Prevention Forum

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

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 brings together local residents 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, potential risks 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 luncheon takes place:

11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Meaford Hall, Sykes Street, Meaford

Lynda Bumstead, RD, MHSc, Program Manager, Chronic Disease Prevention, Grey Bruce Health Unit, will discuss the Fall Prevention Program and the Aging at Home Strategy here in Grey Bruce.

The event includes static displays from various health care organizations and providers, along with representatives from some of these groups to answer questions.

An age-friendly community includes 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 to promote respect and dignity, support the wellbeing of seniors and value their contributions to the community.

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

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Attachments:   Event Flyer - Age Friendly Community Focus Group and Fall Prevention Screening 

For more information:

Lindsay Wonnacott                           

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.1529

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