APPLETON, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Wisconsin has the highest rate of deadly falls among older adults, and now officials are taking action.
Advocates for the elderly say fatal falls among the state’s aged remain high because of a growing population, lifestyle hazards and better reporting.
The Appleton Fire Department wants to cut down on the number of people experiencing falls.
The department says it responded to over 700 falls last year, an alarming number.
“Eighteen-percent of our medical calls were fall related, with fall injuries and, because of that, we dove down into that data a little deeper,” said Derek Henson, battalion chief of fire and prevention for the Appleton Fire Department.
Of those, 70% involved a person over the age of 50.
“That now becomes a target demographic for us and a target hazard for us to try to reduce those falls in that target demographic to try to improve the quality of life for our residents,” Henson said.
Health and wellness coordinator for the Aging and Disability Resource Center Nancy Krueger says if someone 65 or older does fall and experiences an injury, the damage can be worse.
“They usually don’t return to their previous level of independence,” she said.
To help prevent falls, Appleton Fire encourages people to get regular exercise, like the kind offered in the ADRC’s Stepping-On workshop.
“It’s an evidence-based, which means a lot of research was put into it, seven-week class, so we meet once a week for seven weeks for two hours,” Krueger explained. “Sometimes that two-hour timespan scares people, but we’re not exercising the whole time!”
The program helps people be more aware of fall risks.
It also includes guests experts and practicing strategies that can decrease the risk of falling.
“The fire department’s here for help, there are resources in the community that are here for help,” said Henson.
Appleton Fire says there are also a number of things that you can do to lessen the chance of a fall.
Some of those include getting out of chairs slowly, keeping stairs and walking areas clear, and wearing sturdy, well-fitting shoes. You should also beware of uneven surfaces and have grab bars installed on the wall next to the bathtub, shower and toilet.
But Derek Henson says the most important thing is to not be ashamed of reaching out for help.
“Don’t be afraid to ask and, if you have a loved one that’s afraid to ask, don’t be afraid to ask for them, don’t be afraid to step up, because any fall could be their last,” he said.
The Appleton Fire Department recently reached out to the Aging and Disability Resource Center.
They’re hoping to join forces in the near future to combat falls together.
