Falls Prevention Program
Falls Prevention Awareness: Don’t Wait ’til You’ve Had a Fall
Start a FallsTalkTM Conversation
National Falls Prevention Awareness Day – September 22, 2016
FALLS CAN BE PREVENTED
BUT only YOU can prevent your own falls
One out of three older people fall each year, but fewer than half tell anyone about it. Some falls are minor, but others can result in a fracture or serious injury, and sometimes a loss of mobility or independence.
FallsTalk and FallScape are highly effective falls prevention programs developed with support from the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health and meet the highest tier criteria of the Administration on Aging, Administration on Community Living. Both are offered free of charge for older adults in the Verdant Health Commission community.
These programs help you prevent falls by recognizing fall risks unique to you and creating your own personal plans to help you continue to enjoy your activities and lifestyle. Both FallsTalk and FallScape are delivered privately in your home, community of faith or other convenient location.
Sponsored by the Verdant Health Commission in collaboration with Senior Services of Snohomish County and Edmonds Senior Center, trained volunteers from Holy Rosary Parish, Northwest Church, Trinity Lutheran Church, and North Sound Church offer screening for participation in these one-on-one programs to residents of south Snohomish County.
FallsTalkTM screening is the starting point, we will conduct a short screening to determine if FallsTalk is right for you.
The FallsTalk program consists of two face-to-face interviews and three short weekly check-in calls.
FallScapeTM multimedia training may be included; this interactive falls prevention approach uses your individual characteristics to create personalized sessions consisting of 10 short video stories.
You can find out about these programs and be screened anonymously.
To learn more, stop by a free information and screening event (no pre-registration required).
The events below are ALL no-cost, no obligation and non-denominational.
Verdant Health Commission – South Snohomish County Screening Events
| Wednesday, September 14, 2016 | 10 a.m. – Noon | Center for Healthy Living
4100 Alderwood Mall Blvd. Lynnwood, WA 98036 |
| Saturday, September 17, 2016 | 6-7 p.m. | Holy Rosary Church
630 7th Ave N, Edmonds, WA 98020 |
| Sunday, September 18, 2016 | 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. | Holy Rosary Church
630 7th Ave N, Edmonds, WA 98020 |
| Tuesday, September 20, 2016
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10 a.m. – Noon | Center for Healthy Living
4100 Alderwood Mall Blvd. Lynnwood, WA 98036 |
| Thursday, September 22, 2016
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Noon-1 p.m. | Northwest Church
19820 Scriber Lake Road, Lynnwood, WA 98036 |
| Thursday, September 22, 2016
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10 a.m. – Noon | Center for Healthy Living
4100 Alderwood Mall Blvd. Lynnwood, WA 98036 |
| Thursday, September 22, 2016
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10 a.m. – Noon | Edmonds Senior Center Fair 220 Railroad Ave, Edmonds, WA 98020 |
| Friday, September 23, 2016
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10 a.m. – Noon | Center for Healthy Living
4100 Alderwood Mall Blvd. Lynnwood, WA 98036 |
| Sunday, September 25, 2016 | 8:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. | North Sound Church
404 Bell Street Edmonds, WA 98020 |
A Few Success Stories
Quotes are used with permission of the participants
Donald, 73, found out about FallsTalk through the Edmonds Senior Center. Following his participation he shared these thoughts “FallsTalk empowered me to think about every situation in my day that causes me to be unsteady or lose my balance.” He has not had any falls since completing the FallsTalk program.
Anne, 90, was referred for FallScape by her adult son who was concerned that due to her memory loss she was forgetting to use her walker to get out of bed, despite frequent reminders. “Mom watched the multimedia videos with great interest. She willingly reviews her progress with family caregivers using the FallsTalk approach every afternoon.”
FallsTalk helped spotlight specific risk factors for Marie, age 84. She said “Meals and housekeeping are provided at my assisted living facility… so reaching, carrying and sweeping are not risks for me,” then she adds with a smile, “but slipping on clutter in my apartment sure can get me into trouble”.
“The program definitely made me aware of specific dangers in falling. By being aware of it, I am much more careful than I was before.” Mary Ellen
“It made me realize I need to slow down! It is helping me not to ‘worry’ about falling but to be aware of ways I can prevent falling.” Suzanne
The FallScape videos “made me aware to watch more closely where I am going and be more attentive to where I am walking.” J.S.