Capital Health Care NetworkEducation & Treatment Options for Fall Prevention

Statistics have it that more than one-third of people over the age of 65 and half of people over the age of 85 will fall this year.

According to the Ohio Department of Health, falls among older adults have reached epidemic proportions in Ohio…

• Falls are the leading cause of injury-related ER visits, hospitalizations and deaths for Ohioans aged 65 and older.
• Older adults account for only 16 percent of Ohio citizens; however, they account for 85 percent of fatal falls.
• From 2000 to 2015, Ohioans aged 65 and older experienced a 201 percent increase in the number of fatal falls.

Gait and balance disorders are commonly associated with falls. Causes include arthritis, low vision, vertigo and orthostatic hypotension; however, underlying medical conditions – and sometimes the medications used to treat those conditions – also play a role.

Our physical therapists are experts in treating most types of balance disorders through balance-retraining exercises, gait training, safety training, vestibular adaption exercises and muscle strengthening. We are making a difference for our patients who have experienced a fall.

We are also doing our part to focus on fall prevention education and awareness. Contact your local Capital Health Home Care provider to schedule fall prevention education or to learn more about our falls prevention program designed with independent and assisted living communities in mind.