REHAB SERVICES When should I be concerned about the frequency of falling? . One in four Americans aged 65 and over fall each year. Most falls can be prevented or the number of falls a person take can be drastically reduced. Simple lifestyle adjustments such as using the appropriate assistive device for walking can reduce falls. PT and OT programs can reduce falls. Community programs such as home health care can assess a person's living environment and see how a person functions in that environment to assess their fall risk in their home as well. Michel Burgess MPT A fall should always be addressed in some manner. One fall is too many. If you are over the age 65 and have fallen or fall regularly, it would be beneficial to have a fall risk assessment done by a therapist, like the Tinetti test. This test puts a person through a series of balance activities. It scores a patient from high to low risk and allows a person to see where their deficiencies are. The therapist can then develop a plan to lessen their fall risk through patient compliance of the plan. Not properly addressing falls or the fear of falling often leads to a sedentary lifestyle and progressive muscular weakness compounding a person's fall risk. Ignoring them usually leads to more falls, often times more serious in nature. So, in closing, think of falls as a problem that has to be managed, like any other chronic health issue so a person's functional mobility and quality of life can be maintained. Sanford Bemidji Rehab Services SANFR1300 tae eet Nie Bemidji, MN 56601 (218) 333-5898 www.bemidji.sanfordhealth.org Bemidji