August 21, 2008
Fairs set for Fall Prevention Awareness Day Sept. 18
Gov. Christine Gregoire has designated Thursday, Sept. 18, as Fall Prevention Awareness Day. As part of the activities planned for this day, UW Medicine will host free fall prevention fairs at three campus locations:
- Harborview Medical Center, noon to 3 p.m. Go to the Patient and Family Resource Center, Ground Floor, near the Gift Shop.
- UW Medical Center, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Go to the third floor lobby.
- UW Medical Center — Roosevelt Clinic, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations for people over 65. According to the Washington State Department of Health, there were 12,200 hospitalizations and nearly 500 deaths among older adults in 2005 due to falls in Washington alone. Nationally, in 2000, total medical costs for treating falls were estimated to be more than $19 billion. In addition to serious injury, falls can result in loss of functional independence, disability and early admission to a nursing home.
The UW Medicine fairs are open to patients, their familiesand members of the community. Attendees will learn about the latest in fall prevention strategies, including home safety, exercise, medication management and vision checks.
Physical therapists, occupational therapists and students from both programs will offer screening tests to assess the risk of falling.
For more information about the Harborview event, contact the Patient and Family Resource Center at 206-744-2000. For UWMC and Roosevelt, contact the Fall Prevention Day Hotline at 206-598-5370.
