Fall Prevention professionals please give credit when due; it's only write

I've written about PLAGIARISM before and I will continue to write about it because USING PEOPLE'S WORK WITHOUT CITING THEIR HARD WORK or so much as mentioning their name in the article is something that bothers me.   It's disappointing when people claim to be "professionals" and stoop to these low levels.

As a health professional who researched and wrote a 121-page thesis for my graduate degree and applied years of hands-on experience to write "The Complete Guide to Fall Prevention", I have been taught to CITE SOURCES OF INFORMATION.   It's professional.  It's the law.  It's called integrity.

Unfortunately, there are unprofessionals who think it's fine to "use" seminar titles, philosophical approaches and workshop content without so much as saying, "I learned this from so and so, or "The Fall Prevention Lady spoke about this...", etc.

In the Fall Prevention world, the message is the same; we all want to prevent falls in our aging population.  All I'm asking is that these different "messengers" stand up and cite their sources.   As for me, I will continue to openly cite the sources of information when I give workshops and train-the-trainer workshops.  It's only write. 

Multi-sensory fall risk assessments using the FAB scale in south Sacramento

As a certified FallProof balance and mobility specialist, I am trained to use the Fullerton Advanced Balance (FAB) scale to assess adults over the age of 60 for fall risk.  The FAB is a 10-item test designed to assess the ability level of the different muscles and senses involved in balance and mobility.

September is National Fall Prevention Awareness month and for my kick-off to increasing awareness about falls within my community, I offered FREE balance and mobility assessments at Parkside Community Church in South Land Park in south Sacramento.  I had a great turn-out!

Six older adults read the advertisement in The Sacramento Bee and found me in the church located at the corner of 5700 S.Land Park Drive and 43rd Ave; caddy corner from Belle Cooledge Community Center.    We started shortly after 10am and I finished the last FAB at 11:45.  I briefly consulted with a concerned daughter about her parent's, aged 89 and 87. 

I told her they weren't too late to improve as one of the ladies whom I assessed today was 91 years old!  She did fantastic!  I loved talking with her and her daughter, both whom did well.  It was an absolute joy to talk with each and every person and I love doing these assessments.

I will be offering a FREE educational workshop, Fall Prevention 101, in two weeks!  On Monday, September 23, the free dynamic workshop will shed new light on the balance system and how aging affects the muscles and senses involved in staying upright!  We will meet at 10am in the main sanctuary at Parkside Community Church.  I will try to put out signs!!! 

See you at Parkside!!!
Visit my website for more information:  http://www.fallpreventionlady.com

I will be offering free balance assessments at Northminster Presbyterian Church on Sept. 25 (9a-noon) and Eskaton's Live Well at Home Open House (10:30am-1:30pm)

Balance Assessments during Fall Prevention Awareness Week

I was thinking about it and I really feel like doing balance assessments using the Fullerton Advanced Balance(FAB) scale!  I love this 10-item assessment tool because it measures a multitude of elements associated with balance  and fall risk.  It sheds light into the integrity of body systems involved in balance and can be a real eye opener for some.

I used the FAB at various senior and community centers as part of my research study during my graduate studies in 2010 and have had the opportunity to implement the short-form FAB at both the 2011 and 2012 Area 4 Agency on Aging (A4AA) and Kaiser Permanente sponsored Community Fall Prevention Awareness events in Sacramento.

Unfortunately, the A4AA and Kaiser are not hosting another fall prevention community awareness event so it's up to local providers who are passionate about reducing falls among older adults to do something on our own!  And that's exactly what I'm doing; coordinating with local churches to offer balance assessments for older adults.

Community Outreach Balance Assessments and Fall Prevention Workshops:

1.  Parkside Community Church (5700 S. Land Park Dr.  Sacramento, 95820)

• Balance Assessments:  Monday, September 9.  9:30-11:30am.  Registration required
• Fall Prevention 101 Workshop:  Monday, September 23.  10a-Noon.  

2.  Northminster Presbyterian Church (3235 Pope Ave, Sacramento, 95821)

• Balance Assessments:  Wednesday, September 25.  9am-Noon.
• Balance & Mobility Training Classes:  M/W, 9-10am, Oct. 7-Oct. 30

Get educated.  Get active.
We can't stop the season, but we can prevent the accident.

The Fall Prevention Lady

Evidence-based Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance program

Thanks to the California Department of Public Health and the San Mateo County Fall Prevention Task Force, I am now "certified" in the evidence-based Tai Chi Moving for Better Balance (TCMBB) program that has been demonstrated to prevent falls by as much as 55% when a person follows the program.  Woo-hoo!

I thoroughly enjoyed the two-day training with Master Instructor, Robert Nations, from San Diego.  He is a wonderful teacher who really knows the art of Tai Chi.  He patiently taught the group of 13 insstructors from San Mateo, Contra Costa, and Santa Clara county eight basic moves that are demonstrated to PREVENT FALLS by as much as 55% when done regularly.

Tai Chi is an art form that requires practice.  Lots of it.  Because the benefits are slow and progressive and basically directly related to the amount you practice, a lot of people give up because we're all expecting INSTANT results.  This isn't instant!  It takes practice!

I enjoyed the training and feel confident that with practice, I will be teaching the program to (willing) older adults in two or three months.   Hallejulah!

The Fall Prevention Lady

Preventing Falls One Step at a Time

Ironically, the first day of fall is nationally recognized as Fall Prevention Awareness Day.  The theme for this year's fall prevention awareness campaign is "Preventing Falls One Step at a Time".  In order to prevent a fall, it's important that you're wearing the right shoes!

The right shoe is one that has a good fit, good support, good sole and a good heel.  Think about it...if your shoes don't fit or if they are constantly slipping off your foot, the chances of losing your balance are much higher than if the shoe fits comfortably and securely.

As a Master Trainer in the evidence-based Stepping On fall prevention program, I teach an entire segment on proper footwear.  We do a "shoe audit" and encourage participants to take a good hard look at the shoes you're wearing.  Yes, those slip-on slippers might be your FAVORITE pair but if the shoe doesn't secure around your heel, there's a good chance you are compensating to keep it on.  Think of it like this:

IF IT SLIPS ON, IT COULD SLIP OFF.

Just remember, over 50% of all falls can be prevented with increased awareness and lifestyle changes.  Fall prevention researchers recommend you do two or more of the following:

1. Engage in consistent exercise program
2. Do a home safety check and make (or hire someone) modifications
3. Manage your medications

The more you know about things that contribute to falls and the more changes you make to prevent them, the more likely you are to remain safe and independent. 

Visit my new website, http://www.fallpreventionlady.com and order my book to learn about fall risk factors and mostly, what you can do to improve balance to prevent falls.  

The Complete Guide to Fall Prevention 

All you need to remain independent

One step at a time!
The Fall Prevention Lady