Applewood’s Commitment to Preventing Falls Expands
By Matt Machin, Applewood Fitness & Wellness Coordinator
While everyone is at risk of tripping or stumbling, falls are one of the leading causes of injury and death among older people.
According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, nearly 3 million adults 65 years and older are treated in Emergency Departments for fall injuries each year.
Accidental falls can result in short-term sprains to more serious issues such as fractures and head trauma requiring hospitalization.
At Applewood, we bring senior fall prevention to the forefront of our fitness and wellness program.
I lead a series of weekly classes to help residents maintain and improve their balance:
- Get Hip, Don’t Slip incorporates repetitive standing and dynamic movement to keep residents strong, limber and steady on their feet.
- Fitness and Body-Awareness Lecture Series also addresses tools for balance management and body strengthening. The discussion also highlights the importance of creating a safe, clutter-free home environment and an updated health plan in case of an accidental fall.
Measuring and Improving Balance with Personalized Guidance
In tandem with our existing classes and seminars, we are pleased to introduce SmartBalance technology to the Applewood Fitness & Wellness Center.
The new device provides residents with a three-pronged diagnostic and training approach to fall prevention—all performed on a single machine:
- 10-minute assessment of the user’s balance strengths and challenges
- A detailed score review, highlighting specific areas of strength and weakness
- A customized roster of fun and easy-to-follow exercises—performed on the machine—to improve areas of risk
Customized training recommendations and easy comparison of previous balance tests make it easy to see improvements and fuels motivation.
I have found this new technology to be particularly valuable to residents because it will measure improvements in balance as the exercises are performed regularly over time.
Resident Assessment Appointments Now Available
SmartBalance was introduced last week and I’m pleased to report more than 30 resident sign-ups to date. Keep in mind, the initial assessment takes only about 10-minutes.
Joanne and John Jacoby, shown here, explained their motivation to participate:
“I took one accidental fall and it was enough to shake me up a little bit,” Joanne says. “Thankfully, I only had minor bumps and bruises.”
Joanne says her husband John suffers from neuropathy in his lower legs and feet, so he’s especially interested in working to strengthen and improve his balance.
“We feel fortunate to be in pretty good health and we want to keep it that way,” John says. “These kind of tools are a great asset to the community members’ safety.”
Learn more about our expanded fitness classes.
More Tools to Avoid Accidental Falls
We urge residents to take these practical precautions to minimize fall risk:
- Keep dark areas well lighted, indoors and outdoors
- Remove floor clutter
- Use rubber grips on slipper and sock bottoms
- Keep your body strong to support you in case of a fall
- Keep eyeglass prescriptions updated
- Ask your doctor if a prescribed medication may make you dizzy
- Eat and drink consistently throughout the day
Residents can reach out to me directly with questions and sign-up for an assessment in the Fitness Center.
Fitness and Wellness is Part of Applewood’s Engaged Living™ Program
Applewood is more than a continuing care retirement community, it’s a philosophy that encourages wellness in mind, body, and spirit through a range of senior-focused programs that promote health and wellness.
We work with every resident to create a personal wellness plan to keep you active and full of vitality. We call it Engaged Living™.
Find out more about the wide range of living options and social opportunities available at Applewood, located just minutes from the Jersey Shore in Monmouth County, NJ.