Elkhorn Logan Valley Public Health Department is excited to announce a new Stepping On class series to begin Thursday, July 12th, 2018, at the Sunshine Center in West Point. This class will assist seniors with reducing their risk of falling. Classes will be held each Thursday for 7 weeks from 1pm-3pm, and all are welcome to attend. Pre-registration is required by calling 402-529-2233. There is no cost to attend, but a free will donation will be accepted. Topics will include: vision, outdoor safety, footwear, medication management, home safety, mobility aids, balance and exercise.
Stepping On is an evidence-based program and studies have shown that the fall rate among Stepping On participants was reduced about 30 percent compared with those who did not participate. Preventing falls in people 65 and older is important to helping seniors live independently.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nationally one in three adults aged 65 and older falls each year, and 2 million adults are treated for fall-related injuries in the emergency room. Within the local health district, about 1 in 4 (22.7%) people aged 45 and over had fallen in the past year according to the 2014 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data compared to 26.1% for the State of Nebraska overall. Many falls can be prevented and programs such as Stepping On give seniors the tools they need to reduce their chance of falling.