Senator introduces bill to help prevent seniors' falls
by Sherry Greenfield
Anna May of Thurmont is careful where she walks. The 82-year-old watches her steps and is not shy about using a cane.
"I use my cane because if I don't, I will fall and break a hip, and I don't want to break my hip," May said.
May is smart, since falls are the leading cause of injury and death among adults age 65 and older, according to Sen. Barbara A. Mikulski of Baltimore.
Mikulski, a senior Democrat on the Retirement Security and Aging Senate Subcommittee, is so concerned that she has introduced legislation aimed at preventing senior citizens from falling.
The "Keeping Seniors Safe from Falls Act" authorizes the federal government to spend $25 million in the next three years to educate older adults through education and demonstrations on preventing falls.
Mikulski has introduced the bill along with Sen. Mike Enzi, a Republican from Wyoming.
"Falls don't discriminate," Mikulski said. "This is a serious public health problem that directly affects our seniors and their family members. This legislation provides a framework to reduce and prevent elder falls through public education campaigns and important research."
The bill focuses on the prevention of falls in several areas. It includes educating seniors and their families on ways to prevent falling, research on improving the diagnosis and treatment of seniors who have fallen and demonstrations showing ways to prevent falls through exercise and safety modifications in the home.
The legislation will also study the impact of falls on health care costs and strategies for reducing those costs.
Local measures are already in place to address the issue.
The Frederick County Health Department and the county's Department of Aging have put together a series of workshops aimed at educating seniors and their caregivers on preventing falls.
The workshops will be held at senior centers throughout the county, starting in September.
"I think it is just so important," said Kitty Devilbiss, community services manager with the Department of Aging. "Falls can be so detrimental to seniors."
The Thurmont Senior Center will hold its workshops with tips on maintaining safety at home for seniors and their families. These safety tips are designed to reduce the risk of falling.
The class will be held at 11 a.m., Sept. 7, at a cost of $5. It will continue every Wednesday through Sept. 28.
"It's important to educate people so they can live a healthier retirement," said Anna Rollins, senior center coordinator.
According to Rollins, numbers show that an adult age 60 or older will fall an average of once a year.
But one senior citizen remains skeptical that research, education and demonstrations will do anything to help reduce the risk of falling.
Sylvia Goodnough of Thurmont thinks Mikulski's intentions are good, but can't see how it will help homebound seniors unable to drive to the various workshops and demonstrations.
"In theory it's very good, but I don't see how it will get across to seniors," Goodnough said. "It might help a little bit, but there are millions of seniors that won't venture out of their homes... In theory this is wonderful, but so hard to do."
At the age of 70, Goodnough takes precautions to prevent falling. She has little feeling in her feet, which causes her to miss a step or two.
To help with balance Goodnough has installed handrails going down to her basement and in her bathrooms. She is also careful to avoid tripping over her area rugs and the cord to her vacuum cleaner.
"You can be as careful as you can, but if it's going to happen it will happen," she said.
Source: Gazette
Senior Citizen Aticles | Senior Citizen Safety
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