Accessibility: Halton expands the Home Visiting Falls Prevention Program

Halton Region is expanding its Home Visiting Falls Prevention Program to include residents of Oakville. The program, which was successfully launched in Halton Hills in May 2003, is a service for Halton seniors who are at high risk of falling and injuring themselves.

Participants in the program are presently referred by their physician and other health care professionals.

Through the Home Visiting Falls Prevention Program, a public health nurse visits the senior's home and performs a health assessment, which includes a review of medications, mobility, physical activity, alcohol use, and balance, as well as risks in their living space. The nurse provides information and works with the senior to create an individualized plan to prevent falls.

"The majority of falls among seniors in Halton are a direct result of a variety of predisposing factors," said Medical Officer of Health, Dr. Bob Nosal.

"The Home Visiting Program is an effective approach, because it identifies and addresses those factors, decreasing high risk older adults' chances of falling."

Unintentional falls were the number one cause for all emergency room visits (11,238 visits total) in 2001. Most of the deaths resulting from falls occur to individuals 65 years or older. One in three people aged 65 and older living in the community fall at least once a year. The severity of fall related injuries also increases with age.

Halton Region continues to work with community groups in an attempt to expand fall prevention initiatives for seniors. One such group is a peer support program entitled 'Safe Homes for Older People'. Formed in Halton Hills, volunteers received training from public health nurses to provide an environmental assessment plus information and recommendations for improving home safety.

The Regional Municipality of Halton serves approximately 400,000 residents in Oakville, Burlington, Milton and Halton Hills.

Halton Region is committed to meeting the needs of its residents through the delivery of cost-effective, quality programs and services, including public health; children's and seniors' services; ambulance; water and waste water; Regional roads and planning; waste management; Ontario Works (formerly social assistance); social/non-profit housing; heritage programs; emergency management and business development. For more information, visit Halton Region's website at www.region.halton.on.ca.

As published in the Oakville Beaver, December 11, 2004

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