As a child falling is part of growing up and most will bounce back but as a senior a fall could be life altering.
Lola-Dawn Fennell, general manager for the Prince George Council of Seniors, is hosting a Fall Awareness and Prevention information session Thursday, March 5 at the Prince George & District Senior Citizens Activity Centre Society, 425 Brunswick St., from 1 to 2 p.m.
Fennell said she's had experience falling and wants to share with others just how serious it can be for some and what precautions to take to prevent a fall.
"Everyone who wants to learn more is invited to the session since most falls are predictable and preventable," Susan Tapp, Prince George Council of Seniors housing information coordinator, said. "This is a chance to learn how slips, trips and falls occur and how to prevent them. It's really difficult to recover from a fall when you're a senior so prevention is the key."
Tapp had a fact sheet she wanted to share:
- 85 per cent of seniors' injuries are related to falls,
- 95 per cent of all hip fractures are a result of falls,
- falls incur $2 billion a year in direct healthcare costs,
- one third of seniors are admitted to a long term care facility after a fall.
"Falls can result in chronic pain, reduced mobility, loss of independence and sometimes even death," Tapp said.
To find out more about fall prevention, everyone is welcome to attend the information session.
