DERBY — Once an older person falls, the chances of it happening again are almost twice as likely.
But an innovative fall prevention program here is bucking that statistic. So far, none of the Derby seniors who’ve been helped by the Fall Prevention Coalition have experienced a second fall.
“When we started this whole thing, I was skeptical, but we’ve had such great success so far that now I’m calling it magic,” said Derby Fire Marshal Jonathan Marr.
The Fall Prevention Coalition, made up of the Derby Fire Department, volunteers and community partners, came about after Marr realized just how much time Derby firefighters spend responding to falls by older residents. Those falls account for about 25 percent of all emergency runs handled by the department.
Department data also showed firefighters returning to the same homes again and again. That’s because the risk of a second fall is doubled after the first fall, and the risk continues to increase with each fall, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Firefighters would respond to falls by assessing for injuries, and if no injuries were incurred from the fall, they’d help the caller back up and get them seated in a comfortable position, and ultimately leave.
“When we pulled the lens back a little further, we realized that by picking them up and putting back where they were, and then leaving, we were actually participating in this statistical cycle of falling, and I think I knew then that we needed to find a way to disrupt it or intervene in that cycle,” Marr said.
Marr held a town hall meeting, and with the support of community members, the Fall Prevention Coalition was formed last June. Firefighters who respond to a fall by an older person can refer that person to the coalition. Within 24 to 48 hours, volunteers from the program reach out and schedule a home assessment. Fall risks are assessed and eliminated, whether that’s simply by removing trip hazards, improving lighting or installing grab bars. The program is free to participants.
“We find ways to buffer out the fall risks that exist within the way they’re living, and so far, 100 percent of the people that have received intervention have not had a repeat fall,” Marr said. “As we age, we slowly lose physical capability without us even realizing it, and as we lose that capability, our house has to change with us.”
While some home environments pose risks, the danger of falling for older adults also increases with lower body weakness, difficulties with walking and balance, impaired vision and hearing and foot pain, among other factors. The coalition’s effort has now grown to include a lecture series at the Derby Public Library with topics geared toward older adults as well as an exercise program at the Derby Senior Center called “A Matter of Balance.”
“We’re trying to tackle this from all different angles, not just home safety,” Marr said.
The ultimate goal of the program is to help older adults remain independent and in their homes as long as possible. An estimated one out of 10 falls results in an injury significant enough to restrict activities for more than a day, and falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries in this population, according to the CDC. Marr and other firefighters in Derby have witnessed the damaging effects of falls, particularly repeat falls.
“There would be times that we respond to a fall where someone is injured, and we knew it would be the last time they would see their house,” Marr said. “We knew they wouldn’t return home again because they would go to rehab, and then they wouldn’t be able to fully rehab enough to return home, and they would end up in nursing care. That person wouldn’t know it was the last time they’d see their home. It was sad. It was really sad.”
“What’s ultimately happening is we’re not just preventing falls; we’re prolonging a person’s independence by allowing them to live in their home more safely.”
The Derby Fire Department has gotten inquiries from the Sedgwick County Fire Department to expand the program, but for now the Fall Prevention Coalition serves only the Derby area. If you live in the Derby area and you’d like to schedule a home evaluation, you can do that from the Fall Prevention Coalition’s website at www.fallpc.org. You can also donate on the website and subscribe to the coalition’s newsletter. If you’re interested in volunteering, send the Fall Prevention Coalition an e-mail at Info@fallpc.org.
County offers balance training
The Sedgwick County Health Department is offering fall prevention training called A Matter of Balance this spring and early summer. It’s a free, four-week group training program that “emphasizes practical ways to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels.”
The sessions will be held from 9:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesdays at the Sedgwick County Extension Center, 21st and Ridge, on these dates: April 8, April 15, April 22, April 29, May 6, May 20, May 27 and June 3.
Falls: Four big factors
Four factors significantly affect the likelihood an older adult will suffer a fall, according to the National Institutes for Health. They are:
Physical activity: Regular physical activity and balance training reduce the risk of fall.
Medications: Falling is a common side effect of certain medications and combinations of drugs.
Vision: People with visual impairments are two to three times more likely to fall.
Home safety: Hazardous environments that can cause falls are widespread in the homes of older adults and particularly those of frail older adults.
