Working to Prevent Falls
According to the North Carolina Division of Public Health, falls are the leading cause of fatal injuries and the second leading cause of nonfatal injuries among North Carolinians 65 and older. In response, the North Carolina Falls Prevention Coalition
was formed with the aim, through education and training, of reducing the number of falls, falls-related injures, and seriousness of injuries resulting from falls.
See the latest literature review on how to prevent falls here
New Otago Training Initiative
The Otago Exercise Program is an evidenced based program that has been shown to reduce falls as much as 40% among frail older adults. The Carolina Geriatric Education Center is holding 3 Webinar based trainings for Physical Therapists piloting the Otago Exercise Program to reduce falls in Oregon, Colorado and New York. The Centers for Disease Control is promoting Otago as one of the best approaches to reduce falls and is supportive of the development of an online training for PT's nationwide next year.
NC Falls Prevention Coalition
The CGEC is working to prevent falls statewide through the NC Falls Prevention Coalition. www.ncfallsprevention.org
The next meeting will be held on March 21st 2012 at 1pm - 330 at the
AARP State Office, 1511 Sunday Drive, Suite 312, Raleigh. Many thanks to Suzanne Black and AARP for hosting our meeting!
View the 2012-2013 NC Falls Prevention Coalition Action Plan
Regional Falls Prevention Coalitions act on the local level including:
The Eastern North Carolina Falls Prevention Coalition
Western North Carolina Falls Prevention Coalition
Volunteer Corps of Trainers
The Carolina Geriatric Education Center has launched a Volunteer Falls Champion Instructor Program to disseminate Falls Prevention workshops across the state. An announcement was posted on the statewide Members of the statewide Falls
Prevention Coalition network to recruit volunteers to provide falls prevention training. The response to this call has been excellent, with over 18 highly qualified individuals, from professors to master clinicians all who will volunteer their time to be trained in content delivery and have committed to teaching one multi-session falls prevention workshop per year.
Volunteer Falls Champion Instructors attend a four hour training which includes content and facilitation skills. The program goes beyond simple content to the next level. Each Champion Instructor will garner commitment from those attending h
is or her workshop to review the systems of care at their individual institutions and determine how to embed falls risk screening into the culture of practice. Follow up is provided to support and reward the systems change.
Click here to email Dr. Shubert to become a Falls Champion Instructor or request a Workshop.
Click here to hear a Public Service Announcement from Buncombe County
