On November 5, 2014 Health Minster Terry Lake announced an important $4.5-million grant through the Provincial Health Services Authority to the Centre for Hip Health and Mobility (CHHM). This funding is crucial to preventing life changing falls and is an investment in BC’s older adults.
South Vancouver Seniors Hub member Barbara Warner joined the CHHM team to talk about the importance of fall prevention. Barbara shared her perspective on the importance of staying active and the role physical activity has on her health and social life. Barbara spoke from the BC Legislature podium during a press conference and gave several media interviews outside the legislature. She spoke about the work of South Vancouver Seniors Hub Council and about her participation in CHHM’s research.
CHHM is home to some of the world’s top scientists and clinicians. They are putting years of research to work to create innovative initiatives that will have an impact on the lives of older adults.
CHHM's work will:
- Support fall prevention among the most vulnerable older adults in BC through outreach to family physicians and/or allied health workers.
- Develop tools for health authorities to address the risk of secondary fractures in seniors with osteoporosis.
- Increase mobility of less active seniors through education and awareness, tailored programs, and the development of tools to create safe and healthy communities.
- Assess and intervene with ‘at risk’ older adults living at home using a mobile laboratory to prevent falls and fractures from occurring.
Some Facts about Falls and older adults in BC:
- Hip fractures result in death in approximately 20% of individuals and disability in 50% of those who survive.
- Almost 95% of hip fractures are the result of a fall and 70% of hip fractures are osteoporosis-related.
- 30% of individuals aged 65 years and over experience at least one fall each year.
- Seniors who have had one fall are at twice the risk for future falls.
- The complications of osteoporosis include hip fracture and people with osteoporosis can suffer painful vertebral fracture with minimal or no trauma.
- Each year 4,000 British Columbians suffer from hip fractures.
Resources:
• CHHM website: www.hiphealth.ca
• Falls Clinic website: www.fallclinic.com
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