Fall prevention week 2009

Each year, the third week of September (September 21-25, 2009) has been designated as Fall Prevention week. Across the country, communities reach out in order to increase awareness of falls as well as inform residents about the things they can do to reduce the risk of an accidental fall. It's no surprise, and evidence-based support indicates, that following a consistent exercise routine is the number one way to reduce the risk of losing your balance.
Year-round, the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence in Fullerton, CA is dedicated to increasing public awareness of physical falls and Dr. Debra Rose's FallProof balance and mobility program has been recognized as one of the top seven in the nation for reducing the risk of falls among community-dwelling older adults. Having recently attained FallProof instructor certification, I am proudly introducing the multisensory training concepts in the Sacramento region.
So for Fall Prevention week, 2009, I conducted the Fullerton Advanced Balance scale (FAB) to assess participant's fall risk. With the permission of their accommodating instructor, I tested the senior fitness class members at both the Belle Cooledge and South Natomas community centers. These ladies did amazing and the practice was superb for me. I had the chance to educate on the individual level and the response was FAB-ulous!
I also tested several ladies at the West Sacramento senior center. This is a group of individuals who would clearly benefit from the multisensory training. I am excited about the possibility of teaching a Take 5 to Exercise fall risk reduction class there and introducing some of the FallProof balance and mobility concepts.
Finally, I had the opportunity to implement the short-form version of the FAB with several participants at the Fall Prevention outreach in Grass Valley. This annual event is sponsored by the Falls Prevention Coalition of Nevada county. The seniors whom I tested were extremely interested in the feedback I was able to provide from the 4-item test results. It was wonderful to be able to apply the skills I have been studying and to be so well received by the people for whom it was intended: older adults still living independently in the community who may (or may not) think they are at risk of falling.
The service providers in Grass Valley were more than interested in what I was doing. I had the privilege of talking with a wonderful physical therapist about vestibular impairments, especially BPPV. Do you know that the next lady I tested showed the exact signs and symptoms we had just discussed? One senior fitness trainer even asked how she could get information on the program.
The FAB is one component of the FallProof program. In fact, it's just the beginning. FallProof is top of the line, the most up-to-date balance training available. Old programs pale in comparison. I am so glad that I invested my time and energy into gaining that certification.
Learning, implementing and re-learning everyday!
The Fall Prevention lady.