Concussion Awareness Day September 20 & Fall Prevention Awareness Week September 23-27, 2024

September is here so let’s Fall into Fall Prevention and celebrate National Concussion Awareness Day September 20, 2024, and National Fall Prevention Week September 23-27, 2024, to learn how to prevent falls and increase our awareness about concussions.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that:

• Fourteen million, or 1 in 4 Americans age 65+ falls each year.
• Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries for older Americans, however falling is not an inevitable result of aging.
• In 2021, falls caused 38,000 deaths among those age 65+, and emergency departments reported 3 million visits due to older adult falls.
• Falling once doubles the risk of falling again.
• People with hearing loss are nearly three times as likely to fall compared to those with normal hearing, but wearing a hearing aid reduces the risk of falling by 50%.
• Falls are noted as the leading cause of mild Traumatic Brain Injuries or concussions as 36 million falls are reported each year by people age 65 and older.
• Falls, with or without injury,  have a large quality of life impact. A growing number of older adults fear falling and, as a result, limit their activities and social engagements which can result in further physical decline, depression, social isolation, and feelings of helplessness.

You CAN Prevent Falls - Learn what you can do to prevent falls at one of our upcoming evidence-based fall prevention programs:

Healthy Steps for Older Adults:

#1 Marple Public Library - Thursday, September 12^th and Friday, September 13^th from 1:00 to 3:30 p.m. and Physical Skills Assessments by appointment on September 11^th at Marple Public Library, 2599 Sproul Rd., Broomall, PA 19008.  Register at www.marplelibrary.org or contact Bridgette Crockett at 610-356-1510.

#2 Riddle Hospital – Tuesday, October 1^st and Thursday, October 3^rd from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Riddle Hospital, Health Center 4, Suite 101, 1118 W. Baltimore Pike, Media, PA 19063.  To Register:  Call 484-337-5212 or email kanem@mlhs.org.

A Matter of Balance – Thursdays, October 3 through November 21^st from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. at Brookhaven Municipal Building, 2 Cambridge Rd., Brookhaven PA 19015. To register contact aalfieri@scs-delco.org or call 484-496-2143.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that concussions are a big concern for older adults as with an estimated 36 million falls reported each year by people age 65 and older.  Falls are also noted as the leading cause of mild Traumatic Brain Injuries or concussions, accounting for close to half of the total, with other concussions being caused by being struck by or against an object (i.e., injuries incurred while playing sports, assaults, or other injuries), and motor vehicle accidents.

For more information about mild traumatic brain injuries or concussions read the AARP article which includes a physician video at 5 Concussion Facts to Help Protect Your Head (aarp.org)

and visit the Concussion Awareness Now at Concussion Awareness Now | Traumatic Brain Injury Advocacy.

We hope that you will take the step during this time to attend one of our upcoming evidence-based community programs so that you can prevent concussions and falls.