Falls Prevention Program

The Winter Park Health Foundation (WPHF) has awarded a grant to the Senior Resource Alliance to conduct a Falls Prevention Pilot program. Aimed at older adults primarily in Eatonville, Maitland and Winter Park, the multi-faceted program will include public awareness and educational seminars; Matter-Of-Balance exercise classes; in-home assessments for home injury control; medication management; nutrition counseling; home modifications, and assistive devices.

Funding also covers the cost of building a local Falls Prevention Coalition comprised of a variety of health and social service providers who are likewise, interested in preventing falls.

The need for such a program is great as evidenced by 2007 statistics citing that among Orange County residents 65 and older, there were 47 deaths, at least 658 non-fatal hospitalizations, and at least 1,493 non-fatal emergency department visits due to fall-related injuries among this population. According to the Florida Department of Health, falls are the leading cause of injury-related deaths, hospitalizations and emergency department visits among Orange County's senior population.

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's proclamation announcing Falls Prevention Awareness Day, September 22,2009, notes statewide more than 125,000 hospital-treated injuries from falls occur each year among Floridians age 65 and older.

“Many of these falls are preventable, that is the good news,” said Diana Silvey, WPHF Program Director-Older Adults. “By combining falls prevention services-- including physical activity--and making sure that the home environment is safe and supportive, we can help older adults remain injury free and independent. This is a goal we all share.”

For more information on the Falls Prevention Program, please call Sarah Lightell at the Senior Resource Alliance (407) 514-1816 or email her at lightells@sraflorida.org

WPHF is a private, not-for-profit organization supporting efforts to improve the health of youth, older adults and the community-at-large in Winter Park, Maitland and Eatonville.

Click on the link below to view Gov. Crist's Falls Prevention Awareness Day proclamation. http://www.nwflaaa.org/pdfs/FallsPreventionAwarenessDay.pdf