September is Falls Prevention Awareness Month, a time to recognize the impact that falls have on the lives of millions of Americans each year and take steps to prevent falls.
The U.S. CDC reports that each year one in four adults over the age of 65 experiences a fall. Additionally, the National Council on Aging reports that an older adult is seen in an emergency room every 11 seconds due to a fall-related injury.
“Healthy Living for ME is actively making a difference for Mainers who are at risk for falls. Through workshops and resource connections, network partners throughout the state are helping Mainers reduce their risk of falls and improve their quality of life,” said Jennifer Fortin, training & fidelity manager of Healthy Living for ME. “During this Falls Prevention Awareness Month, we encourage Mainers to assess their own risk for falls and have conversations about preventing falls with loved ones who may be at risk.”
In May 2022, Healthy Living for ME announced that over 2,100 Mainers had participated in the network’s falls prevention workshops, with 98 percent of participants reporting they have made positive changes due to their experience.
In 2022, Healthy Living for ME will be marking Falls Prevention Awareness month with several events in addition to the network’s regularly offered falls prevention workshops.
Falls Prevention Awareness Week is held during the awareness month, Sept. 18-24. During this week, Healthy Living for ME will be holding two public drop-in events to provide free balance assessments and information/resources to Mainers.
Aroostook Agency on Aging will partner with HL4ME during the Falls Prevention Awareness Month to host several events including regional informational sessions, as well as several demonstration events for ongoing wellness classes that are designed to improve balance, strength, and mobility to prevent falls. For a complete listing of September events in Aroostook County, please visit www.aroostookaging or call 207-764-3396/800-439-1789.
Among the factors that may put someone at risk for falls are balance and gait, as well as the presence of chronic conditions that lead to inactivity or pain. Throughout the year, the Healthy Living for ME network offers free and low-cost evidence-based workshops that can help adult Mainers of all ages prevent falls through addressing balance, flexibility, and activity levels. These include A Matter of Balance, Tai Chi for Health and Balance, Bingocize, and EnhanceFitness.
To learn more about these workshops, to register for one, or to make a referral, visit Healthy Living for ME’s website at www.healthylivingforme.org, call at 1-800-620-6036, or send an email to info@healthylivingforme.org.
Healthy Living for ME is a statewide network of local organizations, health systems and volunteers that work together to empower individuals to take control of their health. Through tailored services, we provide free and low-cost options that are personalized to focus on the entire individual rather than a single condition to improve overall quality of life.
