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May is Older American’s Month and the theme is Working Together for Strong, Healthy and Supportive Communities. No theme could better capture the way that your United Way works to strengthen the Independence and Engagement of seniors in Northeast Florida. We work with a variety of organizations to jointly respond creatively to the challenges and opportunities of aging … we are proud of the variety of organizations that we partner with to affect change. The reality is that the growth of our aging population demands a collaborative approach to addressing the challenges that seniors face every day.
 One example of the way that United Way works to strengthen the Independence of senior is through a new partnership with Brooks Rehabilitation, geared at reducing the risk of falling for older adults. The fear of falling can be a major barrier for older adults, limiting their mobility, and ultimately placing them at greater risk of a serious injury from a fall. Just last month, on April 14, 2008, in a coordinated effort between United Way and Brooks Rehabilitation, a pilot fall risk assessment was conducted at the Hurley Manor Senior Community Apartments. 32 seniors participated. The assessments included the involvement of Brooks’ physical therapists, United Way personnel, YMCA trainers, community health students from UNF, JU students, an intern completing her master’s degree in community health from UNF, RSVP volunteers through the City of Jacksonville and a Physical Therapist from Heartland Manor. The results of the assessment
were faxed to consenting senior's physicians. The thrust of this new program is to help seniors find the resources they need to make informed decisions about their home environment and better understand their own risk for falling. Additional pilot community assessments, conducted in partnership with a variety of organizations, are planned for 2008. To date, with assessments taking place at both Hurley Manor Senior Community Center and Arlington Senior Center, more than 70 older adults have been evaluated. At Hurly Manor alone, an astonishing 44 percent of those assessed had fallen in the last 12 months and out of those 57 percent reported being injured. Among the Hurley Manor participants, the average age was 75. More assessments are planned for other locations through the remainder of the year.
At a national level, President Bush signed legislation that requires the federal government to make fall prevention among the elderly a top healthcare priority. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.), chairman of the Energy and Commerce health subcommittee, directs HHS to award grant money for state and local education campaigns aimed at raising awareness and ultimately preventing falls. Additionally, the law requires HHS to report to federal lawmakers on the effects of falls on healthcare costs. Stay tuned for how this national legislative effort could be of assistance to local partnerships here in Northeast Florida.
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