MONROE, CT — Monroe Volunteer Emergency Medical Service personnel responded to 365 calls involving falls last year. A variety of factors can lead to such mishaps, from balance issues and medical conditions to throw rugs and household clutter.
In response to the high number of incidents, the town started Steady Steps, a new program empowering seniors to prevent falls and emergency calls, in partnership with the Monroe Health Department, Monroe EMS and the Monroe Senior Center.
“We recognize that seniors value their independence and the goal of this program is to keep them safe and independent in their homes,” said Lisa Pane, the MVEMS administrator.
The Steady Steps brochure includes these national statistics:
- 1 in 4 people age 65 and older fall each year.
- 1 in 5 falls cause a serious injury.
- Every 20 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall.
- Over 3 million older adults are treated in emergency rooms for falls each year.
- Fall injuries have cost Medicare $32 billion annually.
“Probably about 16 to 20 percent of our calls are for falls,” Pane said of Monroe, adding, “about 30 percent of the elderly who fall and break a hip will die within a year. The potential is always there for an injury.”
The fall prevention program includes home visits by a health educator, the town nurse, the EMS administrator and the elderly services coordinator. “It’s a multifunctional assessment,” Pane said.
The health educator talks to seniors about potential fall risks, provides fall logs, makes weekly check-in calls and provides educational materials on exercises to gain strength and stability.
The town nurse gathers knowledge of a participant’s medication and does screenings for blood pressure. Pane said the nurse may also do cursory eye and foot exams.
“I’ll do a balance, walking and home safety assessment for fall risk factors,” Pane said.
Among potential home hazards are throw rugs, electrical cords, oxygen tubing, general clutter and poor lighting, according to Pane. She also educates participants on 911 calls.
Potential solutions to safety issues could be installing a railing or a grab bar, physical therapy or recommending the resident use a cane or walker. “We assess everyone in their home,” Pane said. “We try to figure out why they’re falling.”
“If we feel a patient may need additional services in their home, we could get Social Services involved,” she said, “and if needed, we can contact the resident’s physician. It’s an individualized program.”
Amy LaChioma, an elderly services social worker, participates in the visits. “I sometimes connect them to services they might need: a caregiver in their home, grab bars or a fall alert button — things like that,” she said.
LaChioma can also help residents with other issues she finds. For example, if a senior’s refrigerator is nearly empty, she could assist them in applying for the SNAP program or for the Monroe Food Pantry. If someone cannot afford their utilities, there are state programs and Project Warmth.
“If there is a hoarding issue, I can come in as a social worker or if there is a concern of being alone, there are different things they may qualify for,” she said.
If a spouse or an adult child feels overwhelmed, LaChioma said she could find a caregiver support group.
A free balance screening
Monroe Community and Social Services Director Kim Cassia, who manages the Monroe Senior Center, praised the Steady Steps program and said the center also has a lot to offer to seniors, enabling them to avoid falls.
“We try to do a lot of programs that educate people and help them,” Cassia said. “Sometimes people don’t realize it’s body awareness or the little rugs at home.”
For example, the center has a Matter of Balance program and chair yoga classes.
A free balance screening will be held at the Monroe Senior Center, 235 Cutlers Farm Road, on Tuesday, July 29, starting at 11:30 a.m. Cassia said it’s open to the public.
“It will be hosted by Select Physical Therapy to help prevent falls, learn your risk factors and decrease it with exercises and stretches designed with you in mind,” she said.
The sessions are every half hour, with four people per session. Those interested in participating can sign up at the Senior Center. For a flyer, click here.
How to participate in Steady Steps
The EMS went through its records to identify those who have fallen and sent them letters inviting them to participate in Steady Steps, which has had a few participants so far. Pane expressed her hope that others will also sign up.
“If someone feels unsteady in their home, they can call us and arrange a home visit,” she said.
Those interested in participating in Steady Steps can call the Monroe Health Department at 203-452-2818. The office is open Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
“It has been well-received by those who participated,” Pane said. “We want people to contact us before they fall and get hurt.”
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