Westchester Medical Center Trauma Expert Advises The Bristal Seniors on How to Prevent Falls

From Westchester Medical Center Health Network:

ARMONK, NY - In an effort to keep older adults healthy and living longer, The Westchester Medical Center Health Network is educating seniors during National Fall Prevention Month on how to help prevent these accidents.

On September 13, Mary McCarthy, Trauma Injury Prevention Coordinator at Westchester Medical Center, led a program at The Bristal Assisted Living at Armonk to show older adults how to prevent injury by improving coordination and balance. McCarthy also gave The Bristal residents practical advice on how to avoid injury. “I’m here today to keep you out of the hospital,” McCarthy told the group of more than 30 residents and staff from The Bristal who attended the hour-long program.

One in three adults age 65 and older sustain injuries - some of them fatal - as the result of a fall. About 25 percent of hospital admissions and 40 percent of nursing home admissions are due to falls, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

Kathy Aronow, RN, MSN, Adult Trauma Program Manager for the Westchester Medical Center Health Network who also attended the presentation at The Bristal, said that the initiative was part of a comprehensive balance-training and fall-prevention program presented by WMCHealth. By providing fall and risk assessments, WMCHealth helps older adults recognize the medical, behavioral and environmental factors - such as medications, vision, hearing, balance, diet, exercise and home environment - that increase the likelihood of falling.

“I hear from older adults all the time that they expect to fall because they are old,’’ said McCarthy. “Our seniors need to better understand that falls are not a natural part of aging, they are predictable and preventable.’’

McCarthy and Aronow said fall and risk assessments are being conducted at facilities throughout the WMC Health Network and are being offered in the community. WMCHealth partnered with the YWCA of White Plains and Central Westchester earlier this year to launch a comprehensive balance and training program.

Samantha Krieger, Executive Director of The Bristal at Armonk, said that the program brought some valuable information to residents on how to stay healthy and active. “Programs like these not only help older adults live longer, but improve the quality of lives, which is what we strive for at The Bristal, ’’ she said. “We appreciate WMCHealth Network’s outreach to our residents.’’ The Bristal residents attending the program were provided with packets containing information on how to prevent falls, medication review, home safety checklist, tips for overcoming fear of falling, exercises to help build better balance to reduce falls and useful techniques if you fall.

McCarthy and Aronow said that improving safety starts at home and offered these tips for safety proofing:

• Make sure pathways are clutter free;
• Remove rugs that are not properly secured with non-skid backing, especially at the tops of stairs;
• Install permanent grab bars near tubs and toilets;
• Remove wobbly furniture;
• Have proper lighting and use nightlights;
• Wear proper fitting shoes and clothing;

Photo via Westchester Medical Center Health Network: From left, The Bristal resident Amy Quintano; Mary McCarthy, Trauma Injury Prevention Coordinator, WMCHealth Network; Dean Brown, Director of Business Development, The Bristal Assisted Living Communities; The Bristal resident Herb Cohn; Kathy Aronow, RN, MSN, Adult Trauma Program Manager, WMC Health Network; Samantha Krieger, Executive Director, The Bristal at Armonk; The Bristal resident Norman DeYoung; The Bristal resident Ann Manzi; William Ryan, Intergovernmental Relations Director, WMCHealth Network.