{"id":11481,"date":"2021-09-20T09:51:57","date_gmt":"2021-09-20T13:51:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/?p=11481"},"modified":"2022-01-24T09:57:36","modified_gmt":"2022-01-24T14:57:36","slug":"marymounts-falls-prevention-efforts-impact-more-than-4700-older-adults-over-five-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/blog\/marymounts-falls-prevention-efforts-impact-more-than-4700-older-adults-over-five-years\/","title":{"rendered":"Marymount\u2019s falls prevention efforts impact more than 4,700 older adults over five years"},"content":{"rendered":"

 <\/p>\n

As the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in adults over the age of 65, falls can greatly impact the health and well-being of older adults in our community. In 2018, there were an estimated 36 million falls resulting in eight million injuries. That translates to more than 950,000 hospitalizations and $50 billion in annual health care costs. Falls also contribute to traumatic brain injuries, hip fractures and can lead to decreased independence and quality of life.<\/p>\n

In response to this critical health issue, Marymount University and local senior-serving organizations continue to draw on two federal grants, totaling over $1 million, to help reduce the number of falls among older adults in Northern Virginia. Thanks to an initial grant from the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living<\/a>, and a second grant in 2018, Marymount has laid the foundation for a falls prevention infrastructure across Northern Virginia.<\/p>\n

\u201cFalls among older adults are unfortunately all too common, but we aim to share the message that they don\u2019t have to be an inevitable part of aging,\u201d said Dr. Rita Wong, Associate Vice President for Research at Marymount<\/a> and principal investigator of the grant team. \u201cBy performing the right exercises, making their homes safer and getting regular health check-ups, older adults can significantly reduce their chances of falling and injury.\u201d<\/p>\n

Joining Dr. Wong as investigators are Dr. Sara Pappa (Assistant Professor of Health and Human Performance<\/a> and Coordinator of the Northern Virginia Falls Prevention Alliance, or NVFPA), Dr. Uma Kelekar (Associate Professor of Health Care Management) and four faculty members from the Physical Therapy program<\/a> \u2013 Dr. Diana Venskus, Dr. Cathy Elrod, Dr. Julie Ries and Dr. Jade Bender-Burnett.<\/p>\n

During September and October, including National Falls Prevention Awareness Week which lasts from September 20-24, Marymount and its community partners are hosting several virtual falls prevention events (click here for more details)<\/a>.<\/p>\n

As a result of grant funding, more than 475 people have been trained to be lay leaders of evidence-based falls prevention programs, 192 falls prevention workshops have been held across the region and the NVFPA was established, which has more than 120 members.<\/p>\n

To date, these programs have reached 4,738 older adults. During the second round of funding, Marymount faculty are working to:<\/p>\n