Care Connection to observe Falls Prevention Awareness Day

Care Connection for Aging Services will observe the 10th annual Falls Prevention Awareness Day Sept. 22 – the first day of fall.  The national event, with the theme “10 Years Standing Together to Prevent Falls,” raises awareness about how to prevent fall-related injuries among older adults.

All of Care Connection’s 22 senior centers in 13 counties will be host to special activities and events to emphasize falls prevention.

Falling is not inevitable as people age, but taking a fall is a lot more common among people 60 and older. In fact, an older American is seen in the emergency room every 11 seconds because of a fall-related injury.

The National Council on Aging offers these tips to help prevent falls:

Find a good balance and exercise program. Care Connection offers exercise classes that are geared toward keeping older individuals fit and on their feet. Care Connection periodically offers “A Matter of Balance,” a specialized program that has been proven to prevent falls in older adults.

Talk to your doctor or other health care provider. Let him know about recent falls and help assess your fall risk.

Regularly review your prescription medications with your pharmacist. Many medications come with fall risks associated with dizziness or balance issues.

Get regular checks on your vision and hearing.

Keep your home safe. The senior centers have available copies of “Steady as You Go Fall Prevention Home Safety Checklist,” which offers a room-by-room practical guide to keeping your home safe from fall risks. Nearly half of all fall injuries of Missouri’s older adults occur at home.

Talk to your family members. Enlist their support in keeping areas where you live or visit free from fall risks.

To learn more about “Matter of Balance” classes, call Lifestyles Specialist Samantha Schnell at 1-800-748-7826. To get a copy of the home safety checklist, call 1-800-748-7826.

To learn more, visit www.goaging.org or https://www.preventmofalls.org.

Care Connection for Aging Services, a non-profit area agency on aging, serves 13 counties in West Central Missouri — including Bates, Benton, Carroll, Cedar, Chariton, Henry, Hickory, Johnson, Lafayette, Pettis, Saline, St. Clair and Vernon. Its mission is to provide resources and services that empower people to create healthy aging experiences. For more information, call 1-800-748-7826 or email us at information@goaging.org.

Care Connection for Aging Services Senior Centers

Butler Senior Center, 611 W. Mill St., Butler, MO, 660-679-5830.

Kern Senior Center, 613 E. Park Ave., Rich Hill, MO, 417-395-2225.

Cole Camp Senior Center, 206 W. Junge St., Cole Camp, MO 660-668-2352.

Warsaw Senior Center, Harbor Village, 17571 N. Dam Access Road, Warsaw, MO 660-438-3300.

Carroll County Senior Center, 200 Lifecare Lane, Carrollton, MO 660-542-0399.

El Dorado Springs Senior Center, 604 S. Forest, El Dorado Springs, MO , 417-876-5574.

Korth Center, 309 W. Englewood, Stockton, MO 417-276-5306.

Brunswick Senior Center, 801 E. Broadway, Brunswick, MO 660-548-3010

Salisbury Senior Center, 340 Broadway, Salisbury, MO, 660-388-5431

Clinton Senior Center, 970 E. Sedalia, Clinton, MO, 660-885-3482

Windsor Senior Center, 201 S. Main, Windsor, MO 660-647-3224

McCarty Senior Center, 19482 U.S. Highway 54, Wheatland, MO 417-282-6100

Holden Senior Center, 204 W. Second St., Holden, MO 816-732-5757.

Warrensburg Senior Center, 445 E. Gay, Warrensburg, MO 660-747-2624.

Concordia Senior Center, 710 Main, Concordia, MO 660-463-7393

Higginsville Senior Center, 21st and Walnut, Higginsville, MO 660-584-7040

Margaret Gray Center, 811 C. S. Business Highway, Lexington, MO 660-259-2025

Odessa Senior Center, 217 S. Second, Odessa, MO 816-633-4161

Sedalia Senior Center, 312 S. Washington, Sedalia, MO 660-826-0713

Marshall Senior Center, 14 E. Morgan, Marshall, MO 660-886-9888

Rivers Crossing Life Center, 5215 Business Highway 13 NE, Osceola, 417-646-8292

Neal Center, 301 N. Main, Nevada, MO 417-667-5847.