May 24, 2004
Providence - The Rhode Island Long-Term-Care Coordinating Council will
host a half-day-long conference tomorrow, May 25th, for aging service
providers and professionals that will provide information on the impact
of falls among the elderly and best practices to help prevent falls
and their devastating consequences, Lt. Governor Charles J. Fogarty
announced today.
The event will take place at Amica Insurance, 100 Amica Way, Lincoln,
RI from 8 AM to Noon. The conference, co-sponsored by the Rhode Island
Association of Facilities and Services for the Aging, is the first event
of what will be a year-long effort to focus public awareness on the
issue of falls among seniors and to provide information about fall prevention.
To focus attention on the issue of falls prevention, the Rhode Island
Senate passed a resolution last Thursday sponsored by Senator Elizabeth
Roberts, Chairwoman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee
and a member of the Long-Term-Care Coordinating Council, proclaiming
the week of May 23rd to May 29th as “FALL PREVENTION AWARENESS”
week in Rhode Island. A companion resolution will be introduced in the
House tomorrow by Representative Peter Ginaitt of Warwick, Legislation
Co-Chairman of the Long-Term-Care Coordinating Council.
According to a national and state studies:
Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths and most common cause
of non-fatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma among persons
age 65 years and older.
In 2001, 1.6 million persons ages 65 and over were treated in emergency
departments for fall-related injuries and 353,000 required hospitalizations.
Fractures are the fifth highest cause of hospitalization among Rhode
Island women ages 65 and over.
In 1999, about 10,000 persons age 65 and older died from fall-related
injuries and more than 60 percent of persons who die from falls are
ages 75 and over.
Nine our of ten hip fractures are caused by falls and persons with
hip fractures are 5 to 20 percent more likely to die during the first
year after a fall, and following a fall, 15-25 percent of persons
living at home will still be in long-term care facilities.
A copy of the Conference agenda is attached.
Preventing Falls in Older Adults – 2004 – Train the Trainers
Thursday, May 25, 2004
8:00 AM – Noon
Agenda
8:00 – 8:30 Registration, coffee/pastries
8:30 – 8:35 Opening Remarks
Kathryn Gann, PhD
Director, RIAFSA
8:35 – 8:45 Scope of the Problem
The Honorable Charles J. Fogarty
Lieutenant Governor
8:45 – 9:45 Falls – Demographics and Causes
Patricia Burbank, DNSc, RN
University of Rhode Island
9:45 – 10:00 Intermission
10:00 – 11:15 Prevention & Documentation in Different Settings
(Panel)
Homes/Senior Housing – Christine Sauro, RN, BS
Homefront Health Care
Assisted Living – Joann Cardullo, RN
Village Retirement
Adult Day Care – Linda Rathbun, RN, BSN, ONC
Cornerstone Adult Services
Moderator – Ellen Mauro, RN, MPH
RI Dept. of Human Services
11:15 – 11:35 Exercise Demonstration
Anne Marie Connelly, MS, CHFI
University of Rhode Island
11:35 – 11:40 The Training Manual
Kathryn Gann, PhD
11:40 – Noon Q & A/ Wrap-up
Maureen Maigret, RN, MPA
Long Term Care Coordinating Council