Each year, millions of people age 65 and older fall. In fact, more than one out of four people in that age group fall each year, but less than half tell their doctor. Falls threaten seniors’ safety and independence and generate enormous economic and personal costs, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
To help older adults gain awareness, empowerment and the information they need to help them lead healthier lives, Banner–University Medicine and the University of Arizona Health Sciences are hosting a fall prevention fair, Friday, Sept. 27, from 3 – 5:30 p.m., at the UA Health Sciences Innovation Building, 1760 E. Drachman St., Tucson. The fair is free and open to the public but registration is required.
Experts in the fields of trauma, critical care, emergency medicine, medication management, tai chi, nursing and aging will provide interactive balance and tai chi demonstration sessions and the latest research and data on falls. The event also will feature a vendor fair, food and refreshments, question-and- answer sessions and giveaways.
“This fall prevention fair was designed to help create awareness, introduce practical lifestyle adjustments and to introduce and encourage the practice of fall-prevention activities to reduce the number of falls among seniors in our community,” said Bellal Joseph MD, FACS, Banner physician and professor of surgery and chief of the UA Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Burns and Emergency Surgery and the Martin Gluck Endowed Chair.
The Fall Prevention Fair schedule is as follows:
- 3 - 3:05 p.m.: Introduction and Opening Remarks – Dr. Joseph
- 3:05 - 3:20 p.m.: Falls and Trauma in the Older Adult - Michael F. Ditillo, DO, director of Geriatric Trauma, Acute Care, and Surgical Critical Care at Banner–University Medical Center Tucson. He also is clinical assistant professor, UA Division of Trauma, Critical Care, Burns and Emergency Surgery
- 3:20 - 3:40 p.m.: Falls and the Older Adult in the Community - Monica Vandivort, MD, associate professor of medicine, medical director Home Care and faculty of the UA Reynolds Program in Applied Geriatrics
- 3:40 - 4 p.m.: Medications and Fall Risk in the Older Adult - Ashley Campbell, PharmD, BCPS clinical pharmacists at Banner–University Medical Center Tucson and assistant professor, UA Pharmacy Practice and Science
- 4 - 4:20 p.m.: Prevention of Falls (Tai Chi) - Ruth Taylor-Piliae, PhD, RN, FAHA, associate professor, UA College of Nursing
- 4:20 - 4:30 p.m.: Questions and Refreshments
- 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.: Tai Chi for Fall Prevention demonstration session - Tai Chi for Health, Heather Chalon, MPH, and her team
- 4:30 - 5:30 p.m.: A Matter of Balance demonstration session - Thomas Pylman, Pima Council on Aging
- 3 - 5:30 p.m.: Exhibits and Vendor Session
Paid parking is available at the nearby Highland Garage, 1420 E Helen St. A free shuttle service will be available to take attendees to and from the venue.
About Banner–University Medical Center Tucson and South
Banner–University Medical Center Tucson and Banner–University Medical Center South are part of Banner–University Medicine, a premier academic medical network. These institutions are academic medical centers for the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. Included on the two campuses are Banner Children’s Diamond Children's Medical Center and many clinics. The two academic medical centers are part of Arizona-based Banner Health, one of the largest nonprofit health care systems in the country. Banner Health is in six states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada and Wyoming. For more information, visit www.bannerhealth.com/locations/tucson/banner-university-medical-center-tucson or www.bannerhealth.com/locations/tucson/banner-university-medical-center-south
About the University of Arizona Health Sciences
The University of Arizona Health Sciences is the statewide leader in biomedical research and health professions training. The UA Health Sciences includes the UA Colleges of Medicine (Tucson and Phoenix), Nursing, Pharmacy, and the Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, with main campus locations in Tucson and the growing Phoenix Biomedical Campus in downtown Phoenix. From these vantage points, the UA Health Sciences reaches across the state of Arizona and the greater Southwest to provide cutting-edge health education, research, patient care and community outreach services. A major economic engine, the UA Health Sciences employs nearly 5,000 people, has approximately 900 faculty members and garners $200 million in research grants and contracts annually. For more information: uahs.arizona.edu (Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn | Instagram)