To address the fact that falls remain the No. 1 cause of preventable death for adults age 65 and older, MobileHelp®, a leader in mobile Personal Emergency Response Systems (mPERS) and health management solutions, has joined with the National Safety Council (NSC) to promote fall prevention through safer environments at home and on the go.
During National Safety Month, MobileHelp will work with NSC to highlight fall prevention through a special series of broadcast interviews on Thursday, June 14, designed to educate people on the scope of the problem and promote solutions to address falls.
Becky Turpin, director of home and community safety for the National Safety Council, will discuss the increase in falls among the older population, while Robert Flippo, CEO, MobileHelp, and Dennis Boyle, president and COO, MobileHelp, will provide recommendations on how to avoid falls and new technology solutions available for people to utilize.
Some recommendations include:
- Several types of medications are associated with an increased risk of falls: Have medication reviewed by a physician/pharmacist and consider technology solutions that allow for medication scheduling and management.
- Many people fall because they are afraid of falling and therefore stop exercising, which causes muscle strength to diminish: Exercise regularly to improve balance and maintain muscle strength.
- Make sure the home space is safe: Consider adding grab bars and lots of lighting; secure throw rugs and keep paths clear.
- Keep up with the latest technology: Emergency response technology has evolved rapidly, and people now have more options available to help them monitor health and wellness, as well as get help if they need it in the event of an emergency, such as a fall.
“Fall-related deaths have been steadily increasing as baby boomers have been aging – from 1999 to 2016, the number of fall deaths among those 65 and older increased 194 percent,” said Ms. Turpin. “This campaign was created to empower viewers to take action: Falls are not synonymous with aging, and there are easy things people can do to dramatically reduce the risk of a fall.”
“We are proud to work with the NSC on this endeavor,” said Mr. Flippo. “We hope our campaign will shine a light on the important issue of fall prevention, as well as highlight the myriad options available to help people combat emergencies, such as falls.”
Links
https://www.nsc.org/work-safety/get-involved/national-safety-month
