COVID-19 has changed a lot of things, but one has stayed the same: Falling is NOT a normal part of aging.
Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley-North Shore and the Healthy Living Center of Excellence team is coordinating state-based activities for Falls Prevention Awareness Week from Sept. 21-25 on behalf of the Massachusetts Falls Prevention Coalition.
The week is a nationwide effort to prevent falls among older adults and raise awareness of the issue. The National Council on Aging (NCOA) has a toolkit of marketing materials to encourage older adults to use their new online Falls Free CheckUp, which provides a personalized look at risk factors and explains how to address them. The screening and marketing materials are available in both English and Spanish.
Other activities include:
- Two Facebook Live events hosted by the NCOA: Tuesday, September 22 at 6:30 p.m. in English and Wednesday, September 23 at 6:30 p.m. in Spanish. Visit: https://www.facebook.com/NCOAging/
- Promotion of falls evidence-based programs, particularly the remote A Matter of Balance pilot program. Click here for more information about the pilot and here to see a calendar of programs.
- A live webinar on September 22nd sponsored by Representative Paul Tucker of Salem and including a discussion on falls prevention, testimonial from an older adult who has completed the Matter of Balance program, and a Tai Chi demonstration (see below).
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83996620676?pwd=SUpjYjJNVHFlOEp6SGd5TWZhZDdsQT09
Meeting ID: 839 9662 0676
Passcode: 182663
Share any Falls Prevention Awareness Week activities you have planned by sending them to Molly Gerbutavich at mgerbutavich@esmv.org.