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Students Raise Fall Prevention Awareness Among Older Adults

By September 21, 2015December 5th, 2018No Comments

National Falls Prevention Awareness Day promotes healthy aging

Cedar Rapids, Iowa (September 16, 2015)-Kirkwood Occupational Therapy Assistant and Physical Therapist Assistant programs and Witwer Healthy Aging are joining forces with the National Council on Aging (NCOA) and the Falls Free® Coalition to celebrate Fall Prevention Awareness Day on September 23, 2015.

Seniors are invited to join these students between 8:30 and 11:30 a.m. at six different locations throughout Cedar Rapids, including the Cedar Rapids Public Library, Oakhill Jackson Community Church, Lowe Park Art and Environment Center, Kirkwood Linn County Regional Center, Heritage Area Agency on Aging and the Hiawatha Community Center to raise awareness about how to prevent fall-related injury among older adults. Students will be available at all six locations to answer questions, offer prevention tips, and to help seniors learn more about local fall prevention classes and programs that can help them gain strength, improve balance and build confidence to help them live healthier lives and preserve their independence.

While falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injury for people 65 years of age and older, they are not an inevitable part of aging. This year’s Fall Prevention Awareness Day theme, Take a Stand to Prevent Falls, seeks to raise awareness about how to prevent fall-related injury among older adults.

The recent United States of Aging Survey polled older adults to find out about how they are preparing for their later years. It found that more than half of seniors questioned said they would be interested in the expansion of community-based health promotion programs, including falls prevention classes.

For more information about falls prevention in older adults, visit www.ncoa.org/FPAD.

*****EVENT*****

What: Falls Prevention Awareness Day

When: Wednesday, September 23, from 8:30 – 11:30 a.m.

Where:

  • Cedar Rapids Public Library (450 5th Ave SE, Cedar Rapids)
  • Oakhill Jackson Community Church (1202 10th St SE, Cedar Rapids)
  • Lowe Park Art and Environment Center (4500 N 10th St, Marion)
  • Kirkwood Linn County Regional Center (1770 Boyson Rd, Hiawatha)
  • Heritage Agency on Aging (6301 Kirkwood Blvd SW, Cedar Rapids)
  • Hiawatha Community Center (101 Emmons St, Hiawatha)