November is Fall Prevention Month! Falls are the Number One Cause of Death from Injury in Windsor-Essex

It’s a statistic that may surprise you: of all the cases seen in our emergency departments every year, falls are the number one cause of death from injury in Windsor Essex County and account over 90% of fatal falls are among seniors.

Injury from falls accounts for over 50% of those most seriously injured in our region of those over the age of 25 years. Additionally, falls have also been shown to contribute to depression, immobility, a reduction in independence, and death for older adults.

The good news is most falls are preventable and we can all play a role to help decrease the risk and burden associated with falls. Help spread awareness during Fall Prevention Month this November

Safe City Windsor Falls Prevention Subcommittee

With these alarming statistics in mind, we have chosen to do something about it. To help promote fall prevention month during November, the Safe City Windsor Falls Prevention Subcommittee, will be hosting free events and providing resources that focus on falls prevention.

The Safe City Windsor Falls Prevention subcommittee is a group of local Windsor-Essex County organizations who have an interest in fall prevention and look to provide resources, host events and connect other organizations in the community to preventing falls in older adults in our region. Because we all have a role to play!

The organizations participating in Fall Prevention Month include:

• Windsor Essex County Health Unit
• Windsor Regional Hospital
• University of Windsor – Faculty of Human Kinetics
• Victoria Order of Nurses (VON)
• Life After Fifty
• Essex-Windsor EMS
• Windsor Essex Community Health Centre

Upcoming Events for Fall Prevention Month

We have a multitude of events planned to help build awareness around fall prevention, including fall risk assessment clinics listed below. We will be highlighting all our exciting awareness and prevention events for National Falls Prevention Month on the website.

Join and help with preventing falls in our community:

Please note: Registration is encouraged as space is limited for our free clinics and classes. Free Fall Prevention Screening Clinics.

Get screened today! Participate in a 20 – 30 minute falls prevention screening if you:
• Have difficulty getting around
• Live alone or in assisted living
• Want to remain independent
• Have had a fall or a near fall
• Have a fear of falling
• Want to maintain or improve balance

The Falls Prevention Screening will assess what may be putting you at risk of falling, educate you on how to reduce your risk of falling and connect you to community programs and health services. Following your visit, you will receive your own falls prevention plan that you can follow to help reduce your risk of falling, stay healthy, and independent!

Presented by: Windsor Essex Community Health Centre and the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit. To register please call 519-997-2823 x341

Falls Prevention Screening Clinic Dates and Locations:

November 9th, 2017 – 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Life After Fifty – West Side
635 McEwan Avenue, Windsor

November 16th, 2017 – 1 :00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Life After Fifty – East Side
8787 McHugh St., Windsor (WFCU Centre, Community Centres Entrance, First Floor)

November 24th, 2017 – 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. – Registration is not required for this date
Life After Fifty’s Senior’s Information & Active Living Fair
Augustus Ballroom, Caesars Windsor
377 Riverside Dr. E,

November 30th, 2017 – 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
YMCA of Western Ontario
Central Park Athletics
3400 Grand Marais Rd E, Windsor