A recent article published in the New York Times reported that one of the most frequent causes of death among older adults is complications from a fall. The article revealed that “Every 19 minutes in this country an older person dies from a fall.”
On a local level, data collected by Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Emergency Department supported these findings. It was found that of the hospital’s 770 fall-related trauma cases recorded between January and November 2018; senior citizens accounted for 68% of incidents.
In an effort to address this critical issue, Jamaica Hospital’s Trauma Division launched a series of Fall Prevention Workshops in surrounding communities with the highest concentration of falls.
The workshops were held at senior centers and covered a wide range of topics from identifying fall risk factors to home safety strategies. By utilizing the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths, and Injuries falls risk self-assessment survey, Jamaica Hospital was able to identify seniors that were at a moderate to high risk of falling and make recommendations. Program participants were also encouraged to speak with their physicians about better managing their risk of falling.
Jamaica Hospital’s Fall Prevention Workshops were well received by the community. In total, over 20 senior centers and 700 older adults participated in the program. The Healthcare Association of New York State (HANYS) highlighted the program as part of its Community Benefit Spotlight. The hospital was recognized for facilitating this much-needed initiative and fostering a relationship with the community that will greatly benefit its senior population.
Click here to read more about HANYS’ Community Benefit Spotlight.https://www.hanys.org/community_benefit/?a=vs&s=Jamaica_Hospital_Medical_Center_prevents_falls