1 week Ago By Elisa Nguyen
In an effort to address a grim statistic in Placer County, the local Public Health department is unveiling a fall prevention campaign specifically focusing on the elderly population. Over the last five years, the county has experienced 369 fall-related deaths, with 77 occurring in the previous year alone. The initiative, which is set to launch right before Older Americans Month, will include various educational efforts such as direct mailers aimed at older adults, engagement with senior centers and care facilities, and a series of community outreach programs.
Additional efforts to combat this issue will take shape in the form of a fall prevention workshop scheduled for May 7 in Roseville, as mentioned on Placer County's official website. Senior citizens and their caregivers are being urged to register for this potentially life-saving event, which they can do on the Placer’s Healthy Aging website or by reaching out via email. With a staggering 21% of the county's residents being aged 65 or older, and those over 85 particularly at risk, the need for increased awareness and preventive measures is more pressing than ever.
One of the county’s strategies, besides improving awareness through education, is to address common risks within the home. Placer's Public Health officials highlight the importance of a safe home environment, recommending the use of nightlights, grab bars, and ensuring that rugs are properly secured to prevent tripping. The department is also promoting the use of a free "falls free checkup" – a questionnaire provided by the National Council on Aging that helps individuals identify their personal risk factors and offers tailored advice.
Emphasizing the campaign’s importance, Megan Sponholz, the Senior Health Education Program Coordinator, told the Placer County website, "Falls are not an inevitable part of aging — they’re preventable." This reflects the campaign's holistic approach which also encourages seniors to engage in strength and balance exercises, get their vision and hearing checked regularly, and to consult with their physicians about any side effects from medications that may increase their risk of falling.In addition to practical tips for individual safety, this campaign serves as a reminder of the broader public health challenge of elder care and safety.
It is a call to action for a community-wide effort to safeguard one of its most vulnerable populations – a testament to the adage that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. For Placer County residents interested in learning more about fall prevention and the resources available, the Placer County Healthy Aging website is available as a key resource..
