Events
Fall Prevention
Falls are NOT an inevitable part of aging. Falls are preventable!
We have seen numerous times lives turned upside down by a devastating fall. Fall prevention education is not a glamorous cause and most often overlooked by the health care establishment. We know that many people are interested in this message and we know of people who have implemented lifestyle changes based on the information presented to them by the NVFPC. The cost for the education is minimal. The cost of a fall is unacceptable.
We are proud to be the founder of the Northern Virginia Fall Prevention Coalition (NVFPC) - NVFPC.org.
The NVFPC is a 501c3 organization that presents educational seminars based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) "Preventing Falls" program.
Local professionals discuss the 5 Key Components of a Comprehensive Fall Prevention Program:
- Education
- Medication Management
- Vision Assessment
- Exercise
- Home Modifications
The NVFPC holds an annual Summit to raise awareness. The 2011 Summit was hosted by Inova Loudoun Hospital (read about the event).
The NVFPC has been working with politicians at the local and state levels, the National Council on Aging, the Virginia Department of Health Injury Prevention Division, the Loudoun County Area Agency on Aging, and other professionals throughout the Northern Virginia area to promote Fall Prevention into our community. This is one of the many ways Schaffer Construction is giving back to the Community.
For upcoming seminar dates see the right side column of our Home Page.
Community Outreach with the NVFPC
Tony visited Virginia Tech to meet with the head of the locomotion research department (Ph.D Thurmon Lockhart) where they are studying the relationship between gait, mobility and falls in older adults. The VA Tech grad students are now working with the NVFPC for community based fall risk assessments here in Loudoun.
Tony participates in gait test at Virginia Tech (click photos to enlarge; see video below)
Fall Risk Assessment Day held in October, 2011 by the Northern Virginia Fall Prevention Coalition: