No One Expects to Fall – November is Fall Prevention Month

Posted on by Anthony Quinn

Update: Watch our event, recorded Nov  18, 2021

 Falls: Common, Costly and Preventable

Click here to see the slides from Nancy Edwards, CARP Ottawa Chapter

Recorded Thursday, November 18th, at Noon Eastern Time; another important C.A.R.P. National Webinar during Fall Prevention Month.

Here’s a link to a poster – what to do after a fall:
Here’s link to a document describing consequences of falls and details about what to do after a fall:
Here’s a link to fall prevention resources on Parachute web site:

When we look for ways to protect our own health, prolong our mobility and reduce unnecessary costs in the health care system, the prevention of falls is one of the easiest and most cost-effective solutions.

Falls are the No. 1 reason for injury-related death, hospitalization and emergency department visits for older adults in Canada. Falls among older adults cost $5.6 billion in 2018 – nearly 20 per cent of the total cost of injury in Canada.

By the Numbers (Age 65+, in Canada – 2018)

  • 5000 deaths
  • 95,000 hospitalizations
  • 425,000 Emergency Department visits, and
  • 28,000 ongoing disabilities

If we look at those numbers through the lens of COVID-19, Canada has not responded to these premature deaths, injuries and related health care costs, with a proportional effort in awareness and prevention.

Falls are the leading cause of injury among seniors, costing billions ever year. Research shows that every year 1 out of 3 seniors will fall.

We’ll also hear from the experts on what leadership role government and Public Health should be taking to help prevent falls, save lives and health care dollars.

Panelists:

Nancy Edwards is a volunteer board member of the C.A.R.P. Ottawa Chapter. She also just happens to be Professor Emeritus and Distinguished Professor at the University of Ottawa, with over forty years of experience in public health.

Dori Krahn provides Community Relations for the Saskatoon Fire Department and leads their public safety campaign to prevent falls – she also sees first hand the unfortunate aftermath of falls. She was recently interviewed in FireFighting in Canada Magazine on this topic.

Stephanie Cowle is a Director at Parachute, Canada’s national charity dedicated to injury prevention. Parachute recently released their Cost of Injury Report that shines a light on the real toll of falls among older adults in Canada.

_______

Nobody wants to suffer the consequences of an injurious fall.  Yet, one in three older adults fall annually.

C.A.R.P.’s Ottawa Chapter hosted a series of fall prevention webinars in November, 2020.  We invited three panels of experts to advise on fall prevention.  They shared many practical ideas that older adults and their families will find useful.  Learning about ways to prevent falls can help you live safely in place longer.

Join us on November 18th, 2021 at Noon eastern time for one hour virtual meeting discussing the risks and the social costs of

REDUCE THE RISK

SAFE BATHROOMS

SAFE STAIRS