According to the National Council on Aging (NCOA), one-third of Americans aged 65 years and older fall each year. Falls are a leading cause of fatal injury and the most common cause of nonfatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults; moreover, the fear of falling also decreases quality of life in long-term care patients, often causing them to limit activities, which can then lead to physical decline, depression, and social isolation. In working toward reducing and preventing falls in elderly persons, be sure to observe the NCOA’s National Falls Prevention Awareness Day on September 22, 2012, and catch up with Annals of Long-Term Care in this month’s Health Spotlight on the latest clinical research and news on falls prevention in the long-term care setting. Sign up to receive the Spotlight newsletter at https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/altc
For more information about participating in National Falls Prevention Awareness Day, go directly to the NCOA Web site