GREENFIELD — Falls are the leading cause of injury for adults ages 65 and older, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and those who have a fall are more likely to fall again, often leading to further health problems and physical decline.
With this information in mind, Falls Prevention Awareness Week is promoted by the National Council on Aging every year during the first week of fall, inspiring councils on aging and senior service agencies to take proactive measures to prevent falls.
With some pep in their step, LifePath staff are hoping to prevent falls — as well as beat other senior support agencies in the number of steps they can take this month.
“A fall later in life can be the beginning of a very difficult path. So the more prevention that we can put behind falls, the better off people are going to be,” LifePath Executive Director Gary Yuhas said. “There’s very simple and easy steps to prevent falls; one of the biggest ones is just to get up and move.”
Hannah Augustine, a registered nurse and client services nurse manager with LifePath, explained that in recognition of Falls Prevention Awareness Week, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Aging & Independence holds a step contest every year to see which of the Aging Services Access Points (ASAP) they contract with can take the most steps during the month of September. ASAPs are nonprofits that the office contracts with to connect older adults and caregivers with local support services.
Augustine said LifePath took fourth place last year, which is impressive considering it’s one of the smallest agencies in the state. But this year, LifePath leaders hope the nonprofit can make it into the top three.
To help reach that goal and spread awareness about the importance of walking to prevent falls, LifePath brought its entire team outside for an end-of-week walk on Friday on the 0.9-mile trail around its offices on Munson Street.
“It’s super fun to get everybody together,” Augustine said, “and we have a bigger turnout this year.”
In a blog post on the LifePath website, Augustine wrote that staff, volunteers and friends took a combined 7,258,580 steps last September, and that the Executive Office of Aging & Independence had increased the step goal this year from 75 million to 100 million.
Augustine explained that walking is one of the easiest and most accessible forms of movement, and that movement is essential for maintaining balance and preventing falls.
“It’s about strengthening and balance, and keeping your body moving so you’re not getting unsteady or dizzy, and walking seems to be, for most, one of the most accessible ways to have everyone be included,” Augustine said. “Especially for women … our bones get brittle, so it’s important for us to move as we get older.”
Augustine said it’s important for men to stay active as well, but osteoporosis is four times more likely to occur in women than in men, as women can lose up to 25% of their bone density during menopause.
More walks to come
In recognition of Falls Prevention Awareness Week, Leyden’s Council on Aging and Recreation Committee are co-sponsoring their own step challenge on Sunday, Sept. 27.
Residents are encouraged to join neighbors in walking and tracking their steps at Avery Field on Brattleboro Road from 1 to 3 p.m. Attendees will also be able to enjoy snacks and music, and learn more about preventing falls.
