November is Fall Prevention Month (FPM). Many falls are predictable and preventable. Fall prevention should focus on promoting independence through strength and balance activities, medication reviews, home safety, and annual vision screening. FPM is an annual call to encourage organizations and individuals to come together for a coordinated fall prevention campaign.
The mission of FPM is raising awareness about the importance of preventing falls and fall-related injuries, reducing fall risk, and engaging communities for collaboration to improve health and safety of older adults.
Fall prevention is especially important in BC because it has one of the most rapidly aging populations in Canada. Falls are the leading injury-related cause of hospitalization and death for older adults 65 years and above. By 2031, almost one in four people in BC (over 1.3 million) will be age 65 and older (Statistics Canada, 2015).
Finding Balance BC offers tips and resources for seniors, caregivers, practitioners, and other interested parties to learn how to prevent falls, which can be accessed below: