Fall Prevention Education Series for Seniors & Caregivers Launched

Mega Doctor News

It’s a simple fact: As you age, your risk of falling significantly increases. It’s due to physiological changes in the body like muscle weakness, decreased sensory perception and balance problems, as well as environmental hazards and the effects of chronic medical conditions and medications.

In the United States, falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries in adults aged 65 and older, with more than 14 million older adults sustaining a fall annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention(CDC). That translates to about 1 in 4 seniors experiencing a fall yearly.

Falls lead to tens of thousands of deaths among senior citizens, many serious injuries like hip fractures and head injuries and significant healthcare costs.

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Each year, about 3 million older Americans are rushed to an emergency room in the United States, according to the CDC, resulting in about 1 million fall-related hospitalizations annually among older adults.

“One out of 10 falls results in an injury that causes the older adult to restrict their activities for a day or more or seek medical attention from a healthcare provider,” says Faith Arredondo, DPT, Lead Therapy Manager, South Texas Health System McAllen. “Many people who fall, even if they’re not injured, become afraid of falling again, which can cause them to cut down on their everyday activities. Unfortunately, when a person is less active, they become weaker, and this increases their chances of falling.”

The good news: Falls aren’t a normal part of aging and can be prevented by addressing risk factors like medication side effects, vision problems, muscle weakness and hazardous home environments, as well as through safety tips and exercise, including warm-ups, strength training, balance work and flexibility movements. 

“It’s important to aim for regular physical activity, like daily walking or water workouts, and consider incorporating exercises that challenge your balance; they’ll help you feel steadier and more stable,” says Arredondo. “The most important thing you can do as you age is to incorporate movement and exercise into your daily routine to help you maintain muscle mass and bone density, increase endurance and improve blood flow and memory.”

To help provide important education on fall prevention to older adults and caregivers in the Rio Grande Valley this Fall Prevention Month and beyond, the South Texas Health System McAllen Trauma Department and STHS McAllen Outpatient Rehabilitation Center are partnering with Prominence Health to host the four-part Falling Out of Danger: Fall Prevention Education Series.

Taking place every second Wednesday from September through December, each event will be themed to highlight specific strategies to strengthen your body and improve balance, which can help to reduce your risk of falls, with the STHS McAllen Rehabilitation Services Department providing hands-on training to help get seniors moving.

In addition, the events will feature no-cost health screenings, including gait checks to help discover valuable clues about your walking pattern, as well as an expo to highlight senior-related resources provided by STHS, Prominence Health and local community organizations.

The topics, dates and times for the four fall prevention events are as follows:

Balance Strategies for Everyday Stability: Wednesday, September 10, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Strengthening Key Muscle Groups for Fall Prevention: Wednesday, October 8, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Home Safety: Identifying & Fixing Hazards: Wednesday, November 12, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Mind-Body Techniques – Tai Chi: Wednesday, December 10, 2025, from 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

There’s no need to register for the events, which are free to attend. For complete details about the fall prevention education series, visit the STHS Facebook Events page. To learn more about fall prevention strategies, visit the STHS website at https://southtexashealthsystem.com/.

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