A fall prevention and diabetes seminar will take place at 2 p.m., Tuesday, Sept. 9, at the Timbers of Shorewood retirement community, 1100 N. River Rd. This free seminar is part of the ongoing “Quality of Life” health series.
Every year more than 1.6 million older adults go to the emergency department for fall related injuries. Falls are the main cause of fractures, loss of independence, hospital admissions and death.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 15,800 older adults died in 2005 from injuries sustained during a fall, and one third of those over the age of 65 will sustain a fall within the next year. Yet, falling is not part of the normal again process.
One lesser-known cause of falls among seniors is diabetes. The loss of sensitivity in feet as well as other complications from the disease increases an older adult’s susceptibility to falling. In fact, nearly 40 percent of diabetic seniors suffer falls and people with this disease are 12 times more likely to suffer fractures than non-diabetics.
Colleen Alexander, RN, CHPN, the director of nursing at Angels Grace Hospice, will explain why diabetic seniors are more at risk to falling and ways to prevent it. Alexander graduated from Ball State University. She has worked in a neonatal ICU, an operating room and has experience in gastroenterology. She is now a hospice nurse with Angels Grace.
The Timbers of Shorewood is a rental retirement community which provides independent and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.
The seminar is free and open to the public. For more information call 815-609-0669.
