In recognition of Seniors’ Fall Prevention Awareness Week, Health Minister Terry Lake announced a $4.5-million grant through the Provincial Health Services Authority to the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility for programs to help prevent falls and hip fractures in older adults and enhance mobility though early intervention.

“Preventing falls for seniors can have a huge impact on how they are able to go about their day-to-day activities and maintain their overall health,” said Lake. “Investing in programs that deliver supports for seniors’ health at the community level means greater independence and health for older adults.”

Research shows that 50% of falls in frail populations can be reduced through strength and balance training. This funding will enable the expansion of programs throughout the province, in order to:

• Support fall prevention among the most vulnerable older adults in B.C. through outreach to family physicians and/or allied health workers.
• Develop tools for health authorities to address the risk of secondary fractures in seniors with osteoporosis.
• Increase mobility of less active seniors through education and awareness, tailored programs, and the development of tools to create safe and healthy communities.
• Assess and intervene with ‘at risk’ older adults living at home using a mobile laboratory to prevent falls and fractures from occurring.

“Most seniors want to remain in their homes,” said Michelle Stilwell, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health for Healthy Living and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health for Seniors. “Expanding programs promoting fall prevention and enhanced mobility will help our aging population do that safely and comfortably.”

The funding will also support programs that provide effective community services for patients in rural and remote communities, including First Nations communities.

“Preventing falls and falls related injuries and increasing physical activity is at the heart of actively aging in B.C. The initiatives we’re introducing are known to be effective for reducing falls and enhancing the mobility of older adults. This funding gives us an opportunity to partner with communities across the province and better reach New Canadians, First Nations, and frail older adults,” said Heather McKay, director of the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility.

A backgrounder follows.

(flickr.com)

Media Contacts:

Kristy Anderson
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)

BACKGROUNDER

Quick facts on hip health and mobility

• According to the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility, hip fractures result in death in approximately 20% of individuals and disability in 50% of those who survive. Almost 95% of hip fractures are the result of a fall and 70% of hip fractures are osteoporosis-related.
• 30% of individuals aged 65 years and over experience at least one fall each year. Seniors who have had one fall are at twice the risk for future falls.
• The complications of osteoporosis include hip fracture and people with osteoporosis can suffer painful vertebral fracture with minimal or no trauma.
• Each year 4,000 British Columbians suffer from hip fractures.
• Other examples of fall prevention and mobility programs include:
  • expanding the reach of existing programs for high-risk populations (e.g., Strategies and Actions for Independent Living program adaptation for First Nations peoples in partnership with the First Nations Health Authority); and
  • providing information and educational tools to 1,000 family physicians and/or allied health workers per year to support fall prevention.
• Over 700,000 seniors live in British Columbia.

Learn more about falls prevention and mobility at: www.hiphealth.ca  

Media Contacts:

Kristy Anderson
Media Relations Manager
Ministry of Health
250 952-1887 (media line)