Falls are preventable through good health

The Ventura County Fall Prevention Coalition will observe Fall Prevention Awareness from Sept. 21 through 28 as a way to teach older persons and their families about the seriousness of falls and how they can be prevented.

To commemorate the week, the Moorpark Active Adult Center will host the following talks at 799 Moorpark Ave.

•Healthy aging tips for fall prevention by the Ventura County Public Health Nurse, 11 a.m. Mon., Sept. 22.

•Balance assessment and selftesting training by MediTech, 10 a.m. Tues., Sept. 23.

•Removing the barriers home assessment for fall prevention by Paul Furtaw, 10 a.m. Wed., Sept. 24.

•The impact of nutrition on fall prevention by Ventura County Area Agency on Aging nutritionist Patti Jaeger, 10:30 a.m. Thurs., Sept. 25.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an older adult is treated in a hospital emergency room for a fall every 18 seconds. Every 35 minutes an older adult dies as a result of a fall related injury.

Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths and also the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma.

Falls are preventable. A combination of interventions, including physical activity that includes a regimen of balance, flexibility and strength training, have been found to significantly reduce falls in the older adult population.

Experts also recommend consulting with a health professional about getting a risk assessment for falling as well as making sure the environment is safe and supportive.

For more information, call the Active Adult Center at (805) 5176261.