Fall prevention has become a priority in Ohio, with state and local initiatives to address the issue. The document discusses statistics on fall-related injuries among older adults, noting that over 1.6 million adults in the US go to the hospital for fall injuries each year, with 1 in 3 older adults falling annually and half of those discharged from hip fractures rehospitalized within 6 months. The direct medical costs of falls in 2010 was $30 billion. The document provides tips for reducing fall risks such as exercising, reviewing medications, home safety checks, and keeping vision and hearing sharp.

1. FALL PREVENTION
AND BALANCE:
An Introduction
This learning series is brought to you by Elements Wellness Centers,
because at Elements, one of the greatest moments in life is realizing that
two weeks ago your body couldn’t do what it just did.
This slide share
first appeared on
www.YourTimeBC.org

2. Fall prevention has become a huge initiative in the state
of Ohio. The Ohio Department of Health has formed a
Fall Prevention Coalition and several counties, including
Butler County, have a task force to address the issue.
At Elements, we have made
fall prevention and balance
improvement a priority. We strive
to do everything we can to help
our clients live the best quality
of life possible.

3. A LOOK AT
THE NUMBERS…

4. PREVALENCE
1.6 MILLION
Fall related injuries cause
1.6 MILLION OLDER ADULTS
in the United States to go to
the hospital each year.

5. AMONG OLDER ADULTS, falls are the
number one cause of fractures, hospital
admissions, loss of independence and
injury-related deaths.
1 IN 3 OLDER ADULTS
over the age of 65 fall
each year
PREVALENCE

6. FREQUENCY
THOSE WHO FALL ARE 2-3 TIMES
MORE LIKELY TO FALL AGAIN.
ABOUT HALF OF THE OLDER
ADULTS who are discharged
from hospitals for fall-related
hip fractures will experience
another fall within 6 months,
and likely be readmitted.

7. COST
According to the CDC,
the direct medical
COST OF FALLS IN
2010 WAS $30 BILLION
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8. • Exercise regularly. Improving strength in the core and legs
will improve balance and reduce the risk of falling.
• Review medications with a pharmacist or doctor. Some
medications or medication combinations can cause dizziness
or drowsiness which makes falling more likely.
• Keep vision and hearing sharp. Poor vision or hearing can
make individuals less aware of their surroundings and more
likely to fall.
• Do a home safety check. Assess the home to identify
potential falling hazards, which might include clutter, poor
lighting or electrical cords.
FALLS ARE NOT A NATURAL PART OF AGING
AND THEY CAN BE PREVENTED. Here are some
tips on how to help reduce your risk of falling.

9. For more information about Elements,
visit www.ElementsWellness.org
contact Drew Walter at 513-896-8087
or dwalter@community-first.org to learn
how Elements can help you improve
your balance and reduce
the risk of falls.
Community First Solutions is the non-profit parent company of Colonial,
Community Behavioral Health, Community First Pharmacy and Partners in Prime.