Fall prevention and balance training for seniors

Plymouth Care Center, a skilled nursing facility and outpatient rehabilitation center, announced recently the introduction of an important new program to help prevent accidental falls among the elderly. There are approximately 250,000 accidental falls among the elderly population each year in the U.S. and 90 percent of those result in a hip fracture or more serious injuries. Death from falls or fall-related injuries is the sixth leading cause of death among people over 65, and is the leading cause of death for people over 80 years of age.

Plymouth Care Center’s new Fall Prevention and Balance Training Program was developed to help identify residents who might be at risk for falls and provide proactive treatment to help prevent them. Until recently, falls were thought to be an inevitable result of aging, but medical research has recently indicated that many falls can be prevented by identifying early risk factors and introducing the appropriate treatment.

“Providing great patient care is the guiding principle for all that we do,” said Lori Kuhn, rehab director. “Our new Fall Prevention and Balance Training Program is intended to help residents with this condition preserve their independence, dignity, and quality-of-life for as long as possible.”

The program follows the “American Geriatrics Society’s” Guidelines for Fall Prevention and has been developed around the complex needs of aging adults. The program is non-invasive and medication free, utilizing specialized therapeutic equipment that has been used effectively with the geriatric population for over a decade, and among professional athletes for nearly 30 years to help accelerate recovery following injury.

“By improving strength, balance, flexibility and agility, we can help reduce the incidence of falls, and as a result, improve quality-of-life for our residents,” said Samer Abadeer. “We want the community and our area medical professionals to know we are committed to quality care and progressive therapy techniques. Our new Fall Prevention and Balance Training Program is just another example of that ongoing commitment.”