News Details
Survey of existing senior-related fall prevention efforts

People interacting with seniors – from doctors to handymen – are being asked to participate in a survey to catalogue the efforts already in place to prevent falls.

 "One of the most damaging and expensive issues facing older adults today is falls," said Rochelle Sherlock, chair of the Solano County Fall Prevention Partnership and coordinator of the Solano County Senior Coalition. "Injuries can set off a cascade of negative consequences from which many seniors may never recover."

Falls were identified as a significant area of concern in the 2008 Solano County Status Report on Seniors, with one in three adults over 65 predicted to experience a fall that leads to injury. This spurred the formation of the Partnership in 2009.

Before the group can design effective fall prevention efforts and programs, they need to assess what currently exists in Solano County. The survey will be available until Feb. 12.

Sherlock said falls and their related injuries are largely preventable with proper safety measures and education.

 "Fall prevention efforts have shown success in reducing the frequency and severity of falls among older adults," Sherlock said. “One study conducted by the Yale School of Medicine showed that dissemination of information about fall prevention, coupled with interventions, reduced falls by 11 percent.”

On average, the cost of a fall resulting in hospitalization is about $37,000 in Solano County. This figure does not include related costs, such as emergency medical response and care following the hospitalization. Countywide, between 2002 and 2005, more than 2,180 older adults were hospitalized for fall-related injuries in Solano County for a cost in excess of $80 million.

The Solano County Fall Prevention Partnership is supported and staffed by the Senior Coalition of Solano County and consists of the following members and organizations: Dr. Kathryn Amacher, City of Vacaville, Area Agency on Aging Serving Napa and Solano, Solano County Older and Disabled Adult Services, Solano County In-Home Supportive Services, Sutter Health, John Muir Health, AMERICARE, Emeritus, Comfort Keepers, Senior Helpers, Kaiser Permanente, Prime Time Seniors, Adult Education-Vallejo, City of Fairfield, Trilogy, Partnership Health Plan, City of Vallejo and Benicia Senior Center.

Posted: Jan. 27, 2010