November is Fall Prevention Month

“Falls are the leading cause of injury among older Canadians with 20-30% seniors experiencing one or more falls each year.”

[https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/health-promotion/aging-seniors/publications/publications-general-public/seniors-falls-canada-second-report/seniors-falls-canada-infographic.html]

The good news is that falls can be prevented – All of us play a role in preventing falls.

Fall Prevention Month website

McMaster Healthy Aging Portal – Fall Prevention Resources

Some tips to prevent falls – Public Health Agency of Canada
Falls Prevention – Saskatchewan Health Authority

What to do after a fall – Public Health Agency of Canada

How to safely help someone up from a fall – [Look under Falls Heading] videos produced by Remembering When, a Fire and Fall Prevention Program

Staying Strong, Balanced and Fast: Fall Prevention

Agenda:

1:00 Welcome and Opening Remarks – Dr. Joel Lanovaz, College of Kinesiology and Dr. Cathy Arnold, School of Rehabilitation Science, University of Saskatchewan

1:10 Importance of Research Improving Capacity to Prevent Fall-Related Injury – Cathy Arnold

1:20 Video: A Successful Collaboration and Emergence of FAST (Cathy Arnold and Melanie Weimer)

1:30 Results of first FAST pilot study – Cathy Arnold

1:40 How to measure Fall Arrest Capacity? Joel Lanovaz

Video: College of Kinesiology Labs, Developing Novel Measures (Joel Lanovaz, Jon Farthing, Glennis and Terry Stirling, Danelle Banman, Justin Pfifko)

1:50 FAST 1 and FAST 2 Study Designs and Results – Cathy Arnold and Joel Lanovaz

Video: What do these results mean for fall prevention? (Jenny Basran)

2:10 Introduction of FAST team members

2:20 Acknowledgement of student trainees and their work (Hayley Legg, Danelle Banman, Justin Pfifko, and others not here today)

2:30 REFRESHMENT BREAK and poster viewing

2:50 Welcome and words from collaborators:

June Gawdun, Executive Director, Saskatoon Council on Aging

Kimberly Willison, Lead for Forever in Motion

Cheryl Lehne, Lead for Staying on Your Feet

3:00 Final Words from Participants and PI

Video: (Janet Barnes, Cathy Arnold, Terry and Glennis Stirling, Neil Collins)

3:10 Break out session.. What’s next – Hearing from you (Café style – choose 2)

Questions to consider:

After hearing what you heard today, what would you like to see related to reducing fall-related injuries for older adults?

· Researchers to examine next?

· Health care system to do?

· Community organizations/groups/public to do?

· What would you do differently?

3:50 De-briefing, Closing remarks Cathy Arnold

Remembering When News

Think of all the young toddlers you know. Why is it that they seem to pop right up every time they fall? The next question is why does it seem to get more and more difficult as we get older?

The good news is that techniques have been developed that help us, as older adults, get up off the floor if we have fallen and haven’t hurt ourselves. Knowing how to position our arms and legs before we even try to roll over and get into a sitting or crawling position can make a big difference.

The Remembering When program has prepared two videos; the first one shows some techniques that might make it easier to get up from a fall; the second one demonstrates how to talk someone through the process and assist them up if they have fallen.

·       Getting up from a fall: 

·       Helping someone up from a fall: 

The techniques shown in the video are important to understand and practice long before you need them. Take the time to go through them thoroughly and practice them regularly so when you need them, you remember what to do and have maintained the abilities/strength you need to be successful.

Steps to follow (Public Health Agency of Canada)

1)    Lie on your side; bend the leg that is on top and lift yourself onto your elbows or hands.

2)    Pull yourself toward an armchair or other sturdy object, then kneel while placing both hands on the chair or object.

3)    Place your stronger leg in front, holding on to the chair or object.

4)    Stand up.

5)    Very carefully, turn and sit down.

If you would like more information about the videos or would like to book a Remembering When presentation focussing on fire safety and fall prevention, please contact Dori Krahn at 206-975-7715 or dori.krahn@saskatoon.ca

The Remembering When program is a partnership between SCOA and the Saskatoon Fire Department.