Care Connection to observe Falls Prevention Awareness Day

Care Connection for Aging Services’ 21 senior centers are participating in the annual National Falls Prevention Awareness Day on Sept. 23, the first day of fall.
Falls Prevention Awareness Day has been set aside to call attention to falls among older adults and the costs associated with treating injuries suffered from falls.
Falls are the leading cause of injuries among adults 65 and older, according to the National Council on Aging; Americans spend about $50 billion a year treating related injuries.
One of four older adults will fall each year, 3 million adults will be treated in emergency departments for fall injuries, and more than 800,000 older adults will be hospitalized.
Falls and the fear of falling also cause older adults to shy away from activities that would keep them mentally and physically healthy. Isolation among older adults causes physical decline and depression.
While they are common, falls are not inevitable for older adults. Care Connection senior centers offer programs such as Tai Chi and Matter of Balance classes to reduce falls and the fear of falling.
Both these courses have been proven to help seniors prevent falls. Center staff members in all 13 West Central Missouri counties served by Care Connection will be highlighting ways that people 60 and older may prevent falls during special programs on Falls Prevention Day and throughout the week. Visit the centers section to find the one nearest you.
To find out more information about falls prevention, visit your nearest senior center or call us at 1-800-748-7826.
Care Connection for Aging Services is a non-profit area agency on aging with a mission to provide opportunities for positive aging experiences. The agency serves 22 locations in 13 counties.