Interview with Roberta A. Newton, Ph.D., PT,
Professor of Physical Therapy at Temple University.
(Page 2)

What steps do you recommend at Temple University in your project to reduce the risk of falls among the senior population in their own homes and yards?
A mission of the Fall Prevention Program is to provide recommendations that can be made with little or no cost. Two brochures, "Check it Out" and "In-Home Safety Check" are available to Seniors. These brochures have been translated into Chinese, French, German, Italian, Polish, Spanish, and Vietnamese for those older adults whose first language is not English. They are available by mail or on the Internet at http://www.temple.edu/older_adult.

One suggestion is to take a tour of the house and yard with the question in mind: How can I make the environment safer? Maybe a brighter light bulb will solve the problem. Maybe night lights in the hallway or bathroom. Alternatively, a favorite throw rug can be made less slippery by having rubber under backing or tacking it to the floor. Another area is to be sure that objects that are frequently used be in reach. The rule of thumb is to place those objects between shoulder and knee height.

Other suggestions relate to self. Take all medications to one pharmacist or one physician to determine if all are needed. Wash glasses when brushing teeth. Glasses become dirty and impair vision. Consult your doctor or health care provider if you feel unsteady and need a cane. If you have fallen two or more times in the past 6 months, you might want to get a checkup. Falls lead to injuries, and you need to determine why you are falling.

Tell you adult children not to rearrange the furniture or put down plush rugs without your permission. Rearranging the furniture can cause falls, and plush rugs not provide a solid support surface, particularly for older adults who have decrease sensation in the feet.

For the older adults who have everything, there are several suggestions for Christmas: a portable telephone so a telephone is always in reach, repairing worn or broken steps or sidewalks, any item that will promote safety, security, or convenience.

How many seniors are the victims of falls each year in the United States?
One in every three individuals over the age of 65 sustain at least one fall each year. Everyone falls! Older adults who are vigorous may take risks and fall. These individuals may sustain serious injury, but may be in good condition and recover more quickly than those individuals who are frail. Many injuries do not require hospitalization, but several times there is a long road to recovery.

What type of injuries result from falls?
Injuries may range from bruising and sprains that may not require medical attention to fractures that require immediate medical attention. Most common fractures are wrist and hip fractures. However, head injuries can occur. It is important to determine the cause, corrective and preventative measures to prevent the reoccurrence. Activity is the key. If an older adult that has fallen decides to decrease activity, then strength, flexibility and endurance decreases. This can lead to a loss of self-confidence and a fear of falling, and an increased likelihood of falling. The best advice is to stay active.

Is there anything else you'd like to add as we close this interview?
Just a few points:

• In neighborhoods that are safe, take an inactive friend for a walk. Leisure activity is important for all ages.
• A buddy system is a wonderful social interaction, and provides a check. Calling one another on a daily base can provide a check to determine if the person is, OK. This is an excellent preventative measure for older adults who live alone.
• Contacting the local postal office to determine if the postman can hand deliver the mail to seniors. This little interaction might be all they have all day long.
• Have religious or civic/professional organizations adopt older adults. Members of the religious or civic/professional organization can call the older adult on a daily basis as well as make visits.

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