Falls and Injury Prevention
About every two minutes in Ontario, at least one older adult over the age of 65 visits an emergency department due to a fall. In fact, falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults.[1] In 2010, it was estimated that falls cost Canadians $8.7 billion making it costlier than any other injury.[2] In 2017 in our community, fall-related injuries account for 33% of all injury-related emergency visits. The rate of hospitalization in Windsor Essex County was greater than the combined rate for the next five leading causes of injuries. Those hospitalized in Windsor-Essex from 2004-2013 for a fall-related injury will spend an average of 13.0 days in the hospital. In Windsor-Essex County, 20% of all injury-related mortalities are due to a fall.[3]
The good news is that most falls are predictable and preventable.
References
[1] Erie St. Clair Local Health Integration Network Regional Fall Prevention Current State Discussion Paper, November 2018
[2] https://parachute.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Cost_of_Injury-2015.pdf
Seniors Staying Independent in Windsor and Essex County
Falls are a leading cause of serious injury and death among seniors (those over 65 years of age).
Am I at risk of falling?
This 'Staying Independent' resource was created by the Southwest Ontario Fall Prevention Network. SWOPN encourages you to complete the checklist and take it with you when you talk to your healthcare provider.
Fall Prevention Month
November is Fall Prevention Month. It is a public awareness campaign, with the theme “It takes a community to prevent a fall: We all have a role to play.” When someone has a fall, it affects that individual, their family, the community, and the health care system.
Windsor-Essex County Fall Prevention Committee
The Windsor-Essex County Fall Prevention Committee has the vision/goal to reduce the risk and impact of falls among older adults within the City of Windsor and Essex County.
Falls Prevention
Falls are the leading cause of injury and death among seniors. Most falls however are avoidable with appropriate education, awareness, screening, assessment, intervention, and prevention. The Windsor Essex Community Health Centre Falls Prevention Screening Clinic is a group of health care providers from the community who work with seniors to help maintain their independence and reduce their risk of having a fall. To learn more, visit the Windsor Essex Community Health Centre’s Falls Prevention Program.
Tools, Resources and Training
Are you at risk for a fall?
Healthy Aging
Evidence shows that healthy aging can help prevent and slow the progression of chronic disease and disability further decreasing the strain on the healthcare system and improving the personal health of our aging population
Know The Risks
A fall can happen to anyone, at any age anywhere; however, there are factors that increase the risk of having a fall that can be addressed.
Distracted Driving
Take the pledge against distracted driving today!