Expo offers free testing for seniors’ risk of falling

An expo next weekend offers seniors the opportunity to get a free screening from the Hawaii Physical Therapy Association to assess their risk for falling.

The Senior Fair Good Life Expo, Friday through next Sunday at the Blaisdell Exhibition Hall, is offering the screening, which is among the activities planned during Senior Fall Prevention Awareness Month to increase senior safety.

The state Department of Health's Injury Prevention Program and the Hawaii Fall Prevention Consortium are sponsoring the awareness campaign with Times Super Markets, Safeway Stores, Costco Pharmacies and KTA Superstores.

"Fall Prevention Tips for Seniors" will be distributed as bag-stuffers by participating stores with newsletter stories and magnets with fall-prevention messages.

Seniors can make appointments for free review of their medications by pharmacists at participating stores to see whether any could cause or contribute to a fall.

Fall incidents increase significantly after age 65 and those who fall once are more likely to fall again, the Health Department says. On average annually in Hawaii, 65 seniors die, 1,760 are hospitalized and 4,460 are treated in emergency departments because of falls, according to the Health Department.

Tips to prevent seniors from falling include exercising regularly to increase balance and flexibility, having medications reviewed annually by a doctor or pharmacist, having eyes checked annually, and making the home safer by removing fall hazards and improving lighting.

For more information, see www.nogethurt.hawaii.gov or call 733-9202.