Public Health is preventing injury and promoting optimal health… at any age! In Canada, almost one in five people are aged 65 and older, and in BC, the older adult population has grown 45% over the past 10 years. By 2035, a quarter of British Columbians will be over the age of 65.
As the aging population grows, so too does the fear that our older family members may experience a fall, resulting in a serious injury from which they may never recover. Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults in Canada. One in three older adults in BC experience a fall every year, with 10 to 15 per cent of these falls resulting in serious injuries. Although the thought of our loved ones suffering a painful fall is scary, there are things we can do to help prevent this from happening.
By investing in prevention measures we can help to keep our aging loved ones healthy, in their communities, for years to come. With this in mind, the Foundation provided funding to the Northern Health Authority (NH) region, to give Falls Prevention and Healthy Aging grants of up to $10,000 each to communities and organizations that assist in preventing falls and promoting healthy aging for adults 55 years and older.
13 grants were awarded to various groups, who were not only given funding, but also guidance and support from NH’s regional nursing lead for injury prevention. This provided an opportunity for the injury prevention team to foster stronger connections to the community, and learn more about their needs.
With their funding, grant recipients completed various projects, such as:
- The town of Stewart created a lending library for the community to have access to mobility aids and other falls prevention tools
- The District of Tumbler Ridge installed handrails in their local arena
- The Chetwynd Seniors Centre installed new handrails and stairs, and repaired a ramp
- The Tsay Key health centre conducted a falls assessment, installed home modifications, provided Elders with falls prevention resources like walking aids and lighting for the home, and hosted a community dinner to share education and resources for falls prevention.
These projects all took an “upstream” approach to injury prevention, ensuring their communities are equipped with the infrastructure necessary to reduce fall risks. In the spirit of upstream prevention, here are some great tips provided by the BC Injury Research and Prevention Unit on how older adults can take steps to protect themselves from falls:
- Exercise to improve mobility, increase muscle strength and balance: Participation in a safe exercise program designed to improve strength and balance is the single most effective fall prevention intervention.
- Annual eye examinations: Good vision can reduce the risk of falling, while multifocal glasses may pose an added risk for falls, by impairing depth perception or distance contrast sensitivity.
- Annual medication review with a doctor or pharmacist: Taking multiple medications is linked to falls. Moreover, some medications can increase the risk of falling, while some increase the odds of a serious outcome if a fall occurs.
- Remove tripping hazards in the home and install supports, as needed: Tripping hazards, such as cords, loose rugs, and piles of magazines and books are often overlooked but easy to fix. Physical supports can help avoid falls, such as grab bars in the bathroom.
The Foundation is proud to invest in projects in local communities that have an immediate and measurable impact on the health of populations in BC. Please donate to help continue this important work, that helps to protect friends, family, and community members from pain and injury.
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