NH DHHS Announces Falls Awareness Event On Friday, September 21

Activities Aimed at Raising Awareness to Prevent Falls of NH Seniors

Concord, NH – The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services, in

coordination with the NH Falls Risk Reduction Task Force announces falls

awareness activities to be held on the State House Lawn, this Friday,

September 21st. The event involves a demonstration of the new

evidence-based falls prevention program called: Tai Chi: Moving for

Better Balance. It is being held one day before the National Falls

Prevention Awareness Day which coincides with the first day of fall,

September 22, 2012.



This year’s theme, Standing Together to Prevent Falls, seeks to unite

professionals, older adults, caregivers, and family members to play a part

in raising awareness and preventing falls in the older adult population.



Falls are the leading cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries for New

Hampshire residents 65 and older. Approximately 105 older Granite Staters

die every year because of a fall and the rate has risen, particularly for

females, over the past 10 years. According to a recent survey in New

Hampshire, approximately 26,000 adults over age 65 reported an injury from

a fall in the last 5 years.



The New Hampshire Falls Risk Reduction Task Force has been implementing

falls reduction initiatives for over a decade. Friday’s event is another

effort aimed at raising awareness of this public health issue, and

prevention strategies that can help reduce the risk of falls in older

adults. The event begins at 12:30, on the Statehouse Lawn in Concord. It

is free and open to the public.