Huron-Perth Boomers Winter 2023-24

y Marguerite Oberle Thomas
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
• Many falls do not result in injuries, yet 47 per
cent of non-injured seniors who fall cannot get
up without assistance. 4
• For seniors who fall and are unable to get up on
their own, the period of time spent immobile
often affects their health outcomes. Muscle cell
breakdown starts to occur within 30 to 60 minutes
of compression due to falling. Dehydration,
pressure sores, hypothermia, and pneumonia
are other complications that may result. 4 Being
impaired can increase the risk. 5, 6
• Falls are the leading cause of injury for older
adults across Canada. 1
• Fall-related emergency department visits rates
increased from 58 to 64 per 1,000 older adults in
the past decade. 2,6
• Mortality rates due to falls increased to 85 per
100,000 older adults in 2019. 2
• For 2017/18, around 350,000 older adults (aged 65
or older) living in their community reported having
a fall, with 70 per cent suffering an injury. 3
5. Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction: https://www.ccsa.
ca/sites/default/files/2023-05/Canadas-Guidance-on-Alcohol-and-
Health-poster-2023-en.pdf
6. Goldberg EM, Babu KM, Merchant RC. Alcohol-Related Falls Are
Increasing in Older Emergency Department Patients: A Call to Action. Ann
Emerg Med. 2023 Aug 11:S0196-0644(23)00583-8. doi: https://
doi.org/10.1016/j.annemergmed.2023.07.011.
Marguerite Oberle Thomas, RN., BScN., is the Consultant
Liaison for the Fall Prevention Community of Practice,
which is sponsored by the Ontario Ministry of Health and
the national injury prevention charity, Parachute. Additional
articles can be found at www.fallpreventionmonth.ca.
For further information, visit www.cmhaww.ca and
www.parachute.ca, while health care providers
can learn more at www.fallsloop.com.
References
1. Parachute. The Cost of Injury in Canada. Toronto (ON): Parachute;
2021. Available from: https://parachute.ca/en/professional-resource/
cost-of-injury-in-canada/.
2. Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC). Surveillance Report on
Falls Among Older Adults in Canada. Ottawa (ON); 2022. Available
from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/
healthy-living/surveillance-report-falls-older-adults-canada.html
3. Statistics Canada. Canadian Community Health Survey (CCHS):
Combined data, 2017 and 2018. Ottawa (ON): Statistics Canada;
2019 Available from: https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/dailyquotidien/191022/dq191022d-eng.htm.
4. Public Health Agency of Canada. Seniors’ Falls in Canada: Second
Report. Ottawa (ON); 2014. Available at: www.canada.ca/en/
public-health/services/health-promotion/aging-seniors/publications/
publicationsgeneralpublic/seniors-falls-canada-second-report.html.5.
Improving Quality of
Life: Substance Use and Aging (Report), Canadian Centre on Substance
Use and Addiction, 2018. Available from https://www.ccsa.ca/
improving-quality-life-substance-use-and-aging-report.
Accepting new students this
Winter and Spring.
Fully equipped studio with high quality
air purification system.
Maximum 5 people per class.
Learn the Pilates Method, how your spine works,
how to stabilize it to improve your balance,
posture and reduce pain.
Excellent for back pain, to prepare for knee
or hip surgery and rehab post-surgery.
You can start with a private, with a friend or
form your own group no more than 5 people.
SUE HANNON Owner/Operator/Instructor
10 Edison St, St. Marys ON
(519) 284-8098 | holyhannon@bell.net
WINTER 2023/24 • 17