{"id":14922,"date":"2022-09-22T11:46:22","date_gmt":"2022-09-22T15:46:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/?p=14922"},"modified":"2022-09-26T09:19:32","modified_gmt":"2022-09-26T13:19:32","slug":"mu-falls-prevention-experts-seek-to-strengthen-community-connections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/marymount.edu\/blog\/mu-falls-prevention-experts-seek-to-strengthen-community-connections\/","title":{"rendered":"MU falls prevention experts seek to strengthen community connections"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Every year, one in four Americans age 65 and older are negatively impacted by a fall, according to the National Council on Aging<\/a>. Falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in older adults, and they greatly impact their health and well-being. In addition to threatening their independence, falls generate significant economic and personal challenges for older adults and their caregivers. And by 2030 in the U.S., falls are expected to result in a cost of $101 billion.<\/p>\n

However, falls can be prevented. The theme of this year\u2019s National Falls Prevention Awareness Week<\/a> is \u2018Strengthening Community Connections,\u2019 which emphasizes that everyone plays a role in preventing falls and keeping older adults safe.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know that with the right education, practical lifestyle adjustments, implementation of evidence-based falls prevention programs and clinical-community partnerships, we can decrease and prevent people from falling,\u201d explained Dr. Sara Pappa<\/a>, Assistant Professor of Health Sciences<\/a> at Marymount University and Project Manager with the Northern Virginia Falls Prevention Alliance (NVFPA)<\/a>. \u201cConnecting with local businesses, older adult-serving organizations, government agencies, emergency services and others is important as we work towards reducing falls.\u201d<\/p>\n

Through an academic-community partnership based within Marymount\u2019s Center for Optimal Aging<\/a>, the 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. Marymount has been a leader in establishing a falls prevention infrastructure across the region thanks to an initial grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Community Living<\/a>, as well as a second grant in 2018.<\/p>\n

\u201cOlder adult falls are unfortunately 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<\/a>, Associate Vice President for Research at Marymount University<\/a> and principal investigator of the grant team. \u201cBy performing exercises to maintain strength and balance, making their homes safer and getting regular health check-ups, older adults can significantly reduce their chances of falling and becoming injured.\u201d<\/p>\n

So far, more than 500 people have been trained in evidence-based falls prevention programs and 194 falls prevention workshops have been delivered to 5,350 older adults thanks to the work of NVFPA. Headed by Dr. Wong as principal investigator and Dr. Pappa as co-investigator and Project Manager, the organization also includes Dr. Patricia C. Heyn, Founding Director of Marymount\u2019s Center for Optimal Aging, research fellows from the Center and several faculty members from Marymount\u2019s Physical Therapy program<\/a>.<\/p>\n

During the current round of funding, Marymount faculty are working to:<\/p>\n