The Dancing Sky Area Agency on Aging is marking Falls Prevention Awareness Week, Sept. 21-25, with a few online activities.
Falling is not a normal part of aging. Dancing Sky is committed to empowering older adults in the region to reduce their risk of falls, which are one of the greatest causes of serious injuries and death among people over age 65.
Dancing Sky has partnered with Juniper (a statewide program of Innovations of Aging) and the National Council on Aging to mark Falls Prevention Awareness Week with an outreach campaign. The campaign includes a new online falls risk assessment tool, available at no cost to individuals across the country. Visitors to www.ncoa.org/FallsFreeCheckUp can complete a short, 12-question survey that screens them for the most common falls risk factors.
Juniper is offering online information sessions to raise awareness among older adults about the risk of falls and ways to avoid falling. To register for one of these sessions, call 1-855-215-2174 or email info@yourjuniper.org.
- Recognizing Fall-ty Habits: Home Safety Checklist: Wednesday, Sept. 23, 2:30-3:30 p.m., via Zoom. Spot environmental hazards in your home before they cause a fall. Join this session for an engaging discussion and demonstration of the home safety checklist from the Juniper class, A Matter of Balance. Presenters: Sarah Shepherd and Rachel Von Ruden, LSW, A Matter of Balance Master Trainers.
- Avoiding Falls: Honest Talk and New Skills: Friday, Sept. 25, 11 to noon, via Zoom. Learn about factors that increase risk for falling such as medications and issues with vision and how to counteract them. The session will also show you how to incorporate easy and fun exercises into your day. Presenters: Paula Woischke, Stay Active and Independent for Life Master Trainer and Stepping On Leader; Amanda Bisel, Pharmacist with Allina Health; Peggy Sue Garber, RN, Mayo Clinic and a Stepping On Instructor.
Dancing Sky is also featuring a daily “Falls Free Tip," along with relevant resources, on its Facebook page throughout the end of September. Visit, like, and share the page at www.facebook.com/pages/category/Social-Service/Dancing-Sky-Area-Agency-on-Aging-489630074463962/ .
