Falls Prevention

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20201010

Did you know that falling is a leading cause of death among older people? According to the Centers for Disease Control, every 11 seconds an elder goes to the emergency room due to a fall. What's worse: every 19 minutes an elder dies from a fall.

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Once someone falls they are at greater risk to fall again; more than 7 million falls require medical treatment every year, with a hospital stay that generally exceeds $30,000.

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Healthy Aging MV seeks to help prevent falls among our older adults. We lead the Falls Prevention Coalition on Martha's Vineyard to educate people about safety and decrease falls. Our Coalition is made up of dozens of island organizations that support physical health, mental health, and community engagement.

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What we do:

• We advocate for and organize home assessments to identify safety concerns

• We educate people about how to make their homes safer and reduce fall risks

• We collaborate with local builders and contractors who can make repairs and modifications in the home, helping the older adult remain in their home longer

• We are beginning to network with local pharmacists to encourage medication reviews

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To join our coalition or get information about our resources, please email us.

photo courtesy of the Martha's Vineyard Gazette and photographer Mark Allen Lovewell