Posted
on September 14th, 2020 Armando Trull, Media Relations
Manager 202-709-2474 armando.trull@ncoa.org
12-question
online screening tool identifies falls risks and offers resources to take
action to reduce them
Arlington,
VA (September 14, 2020) – During Falls Prevention Awareness Week,
September 21-25, 2020, the National Council on Aging (NCOA), a trusted national
leader working to ensure that every person can age well, is launching Falls Free CheckUp/Chequeo Contra Caídas,
an innovative online tool—available in both English and Spanish—that helps
older adults assess their risk of falling and offers them a wealth of bilingual
resources to stay safe.
The
self-directed survey asks older adults 12 questions about their potential falls
risk, such as balance and strength, medications, worry about falls, and past
history of falls. A score of four or more indicates a risk for falls. After
completing the screening, older adults receive their results by email, along
with specific steps and resources to reduce their risk and advice on following
up with their health care provider.
The
checkup is built on NCOA’s deep expertise in falls prevention as leader of
the National Falls Prevention Resource
Center, funded by the U.S. Administration for Community Living, and
the Falls Free® Initiative.
NCOA has sponsored Falls Prevention Awareness Day in September for the past 12
years, and this year expanded the event to a full week to bring additional
attention to this critical health issue and reach more older adults. As part of
NCOA’s commitment to reaching the growing Hispanic and Latinx older adult
community, the checkup and resources are also offered in Spanish.
“We
want older adults to be their own agents of change in ensuring they age well,
and the Falls Free CheckUp/Chequeo Contra Caídas empowers them to do just that
by providing a simple, confidential assessment of their falls risks and proven
methods to address them,” said Kathleen Cameron, Senior
Director of NCOA’s Center for Healthy Aging. “The coronavirus pandemic has
changed a lot of things, but one thing that’s still the same is falling is not
a normal part of aging. There are steps older adults can take to reduce their
risk. The online screening is an excellent first step in taking action”
One
in four Americans aged 65+ falls every year. Falls are the leading cause of
fatal and non-fatal injuries, such as hip fractures and brain injuries, for
older adults. They are costly—in dollars and in impact on quality of life.
However, falling is not an inevitable part of growing older. Through practical
lifestyle adjustments, evidence-based programs, and community-clinical
partnerships, the number of falls among older adults can be reduced
substantially.
During
Falls Prevention Awareness Week, NCOA will host Facebook live events in English and
Spanish featuring experts who will offer practical tips for older adults to
stay safe. In addition, state and local members of the Falls Free Coalition
will be sponsoring virtual events in communities across the country.
For
more information, please visit www.ncoa.org/FallsPrevention, www.ncoa.org/FallsFreeCheckUp, and www.ncoa.org/ChequeoContraCaídas.
About NCOA
The
National Council on Aging (NCOA) is a trusted national leader working to ensure
that every person can age well. Since 1950, our mission has not changed:
Improve the lives of millions of older adults, especially those who are
struggling. NCOA empowers people with the best solutions to improve their own
health and economic security—and we strengthen government programs that we all
depend on as we age. Every year, millions of people use our signature programs
BenefitsCheckUp®, My Medicare Matters®, and the Aging Mastery Program® to age
well. By offering online tools and collaborating with a nationwide network of
partners, NCOA is working to improve the lives of 40 million older adults by
2030. Learn more at ncoa.org and @NCOAging.
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