Older Americans Month is sponsored each May by the U.S. Administration for Community Living (ACL). This year's theme is Safe Today. Healthy Tomorrow. The focus is on injury prevention, including fire, motor vehicle, and consumer product safety; improper use of medicine; and more.
According to ACL, "unintentional injuries to this population result in at least 6 million medically treated injuries and more than 30,000 deaths every year." Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries for those aged 65+. More than 21,700 older adults die from falls each year, and every 15 seconds, an older adult is seen in an Emergency Department for a fall-related injury. The direct medical cost of falls is currently estimated to top $36 billion annually and is expected to grow to nearly $62 billion by 2020.
Yet, falls are not a normal part of aging, and they can be prevented through a combination of interventions. These include exercising, getting a fall risk assessment, reviewing medications, having vision and hearing checked, and making the home environment safe. More tips are available at www.ncoa.org/FallsPrevention.
Check out our Special Events calendar for the month of May! Make the "CASI Lifestyle" Choice today!
CASI is located at 1035 W. Kimberly Road. Davenport, IA 52807 563-386-7477
www.CasiSeniors.org Monday-Friday 8:00 a.m.- 5:00 p.m.
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