The director of a Southeast Michigan emergency responder agency has seen a sharp rise in falls among the elderly in the county he serves, according to a published report.
The Livingston Daily reports statistics also indicate a dramatic rise of elderly falling during the past decade. At least 18,000 older Americans die as a result of a fall each year.
For that reason, the Livingston County Emergency Management Services is working on establishing a program that instructs the prevention of falling. Last year, the service answered 801 calls regarding a fall. The agency is on pace to notch 850 this year.
“If someone falls and needs assistance, we go out and provide that service,” agency Director Jeff Boyd told the publication. “Falls threaten people’s health.”
The new program will see emergency responders show up at county residents’ homes to help prevent falls and assist adults live more enjoyably.
To help with recovery from falls, certified occupational therapist assistant Christine Gardner works with elderly patients to improve their balance as part of an effort to prevent their fall in the first place.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there were 2.2 million nonfatal falls among the elderly in 2009. Physical therapy is important to help people recover from such incidents.