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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAttachment A-Fall Prevention for an Aging PopulationFall Prevention for an Aging Population JENNIFER SKOLASKI, PHD COMMUNITY & NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP CONSULTING, LLC Background •Grant from the Basic Needs Giving Partnership, which is supported by the U.S. Venture Fund for Basic Needs within the Oshkosh Area Community Foundation, the J. J. Keller Foundation, and other community partners •Purpose:To understand how older adult falls in the Oshkosh area could be prevented •Conducted community conversations and three different surveys •Population:Oshkosh residents, older adults, services providers, and community change agents Partners •Anne Schaefer, Marketing and Fund Development Coordinator, Oshkosh Seniors Center •Beth Roberts, Long Term Support Division Manager, Winnebago County Human Services –Aging and Disability Resource Center •Chip Wood, Executive Director, Rebuilding Together Fox Valley •Dave Merkley, Administrator, Miravida Living •Ericka Dawydko, Health & Wellness Director, Oshkosh Community YMCA •Erin Roberts, Registered Nurse, Winnebago County Health Department and Finding Balance Together •Fran Garb, Retired, Community Member •Jane Wells, Program Supervisor, Oshkosh Seniors Center •Jean Wollerman, Senior Services Manager, Oshkosh Seniors Center •Joanne Murphy Spice, Wellness Plus Programs Coordinator, Winnebago County Health Department •Kathi Hegranes, Injury Prevention & Outreach Coordinator, ThedaCare, Finding Balance Together and the Fox Valley Regional Trauma Advisory Council •Ken Arneson, President & CEO, Evergreen Retirement Community •Lester Millette, Downtown Branch Director, Oshkosh Community YMCA •Mark Rohloff, City Manager, City of Oshkosh •Michael Ford, Associate Professor of Public Administration, University of Wisconsin Oshkosh •Michael Stanley, Chief, Oshkosh Fire Department •Sue Panek, Retired, Community Member •Su van Houwelingen, Executive Director, Oshkosh/Winnebago County Housing Authority Overview of Project •18 community conversations between November 11 and December 13, 2019 •13 sessions for users of services •181 total attendees •156 hardcopy surveys for all attendees (117 users of services, 19 service providers, 20 change agents) •SurveyMonkey survey sent to service providers (228 responses) •POLCO survey sent out by City of Oshkosh (85 responses) •Data from three pilots •Follow-up mailer, NEWTRACK App, and Rebuilding Together Fox Valley/OFD •Additional data gathered from Oshkosh Fire Department (OFD) and Winnebago County Coroner’s Office Questions 1.What community resources/things in your community do you use to stay physically and emotionally healthy? 2.Why do you think people fall? Or what do you see as the challenges in our community for why people fall? Feel free to share your experiences, the experiences of your friends and loved ones. 3.What as a community could we do to help reduce the risks of falling? Or what do you wish our community would offer to help prevent falls from happening? Findings Themes Exercise is how older adults report staying physically healthy. Group activities and one-on-one relationships are how older adults stay emotionally connected. Falls are caused by both external physical factors and personal health factors. Fear and stigma among older adults were noted as major barriers to fall prevention. Education about fall prevention. Intergenerational engagement in order to combat ageism Increasing trust between older adults and formal authorities Fiona Fall Down Fiona knows that rugs and clutter can cause falls so she asks family members to help make her living environment free of any obstacle that can cause her to fall Fiona knows that she needs to stay healthy by eating foods rich in fruits and vegetables and watches her alcohol intake Fiona knows that she needs 150 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity through the week to stay strong so she participates in community organizations that host exercise opportunities Fiona knows that she needs to install grab bars in bathrooms and also makes sure that her home has proper railings inside and outside of her home Fiona knows that if she needs any help she can call a trusting organization such as the Aging and Resource Center for resources or the Oshkosh Health Department for assistance Fiona gets regular checkups from her doctor to stay healthy and makes sure she has her eyes checked every 1-2 years Fiona knows that the proper shoes are needed for walking outdoors and practices the penguin walk while walking over snow and ice Fiona knows that proper lighting is so important for getting up during the night so having nightlights throughout the house is important Community Action Plan Goals •Overall objective:Prevent falls among older adults by taking action on community partner driven recommendations. •Prioritized recommendations: 1. Reduce falls in the greater Oshkosh community. 2. Educate individuals, families, and the community on falls. 3. Build relationships and trust through community connections. Reduce falls in the greater Oshkosh community. We can reduce these numbers by focusing on preventive measures that move the needle for our community (e.g., decrease number of fall related deaths, decrease in number of EMS calls related to falls, decrease in number of reported falls at residences, increase in fall prevention programs and projects). By educating individuals, families, and the community on falls we can prevent falls from happening. As a community we need to have more education about fall prevention (e.g., what constitutes a fall, how to walk, how to fall, risks and injuries associated with falls, current statistics of who falls, and what programs, classes, and resources are available), and in many formats (e.g., social media, newspaper campaign, one-on-one communication between health care and individuals), with a focus on independence, activity, and community support. This fall prevention education should be targeted at all community members since falls happen at any age and prevention should start early. We need to build relationships and trust through community connections. To address the stigma of aging and falling; challenge individual stubbornness, pride, and overconfidence; and identify the fear of losing one’s independence or their home; we need to build relationships and trust through community connections. To help older adults be more proactive and preventive with their health, we need to build this trust so that people feel comfortable reporting falls and getting the help they need. Conclusion