Fall Prevention

Release: 7/31/2010.

(Amarillo, TX)- In an effort to prevent falls, Accolade Home Care is offering a community presentation and various informative pieces on Fall Prevention. These pieces will include a Falls Free Plan, Home Safety Checklist and Fall Prevention Tips. This will be offered to Amarillo and surrounding area residents on August 4th from 9 a.m.- 2 p.m. at Amarillo Senior Citizen’s Center, 1220 S. Polk Amarillo, TX 79101.

All results from the screening will be made available to participant. Accolade will also provide individuals with informational sheets explaining how to stay safe and independent.

Each year, about 1.85 million people 65 and older are treated in emergency rooms for nonfatal injuries from falls, in which 473,000 of these patients are hospitalized. Many people who fall, even those who are not injured, develop a fear of falling. This fear may cause them to limit their activities, leading to reduced mobility and physical fitness and increasing their actual risk of falling.

Accolade’s fall prevention program will help you stand tall with the help of nurses, Physical Therapists and Occupational Therapists. Fall prevention is multifactoral. It takes careful attention to environmental factors, medical diagnoses, comorbidities and even a patient’s social support. Accolade therapists are trained to evaluate the individual needs of each patient and provide a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation that may include environmental modification, specific exercise prescription and assistive device selection, such as canes and walkers.

Ethel Anderson, an active senior, understands the importance of Fall Prevention. Mrs. Anderson came onto Accolade Home Care’s services after falling and breaking her ankle. Physical Therapist, John Glover was assigned to Ethel’s care and worked on strengthening her legs and entire body.

When asked about Ethel’s progress, Mr. Glover stated, “Mrs. Anderson had fallen prior to her referral to physical therapy. She had been very active, so it was difficult for her to be dependent on a walker. Thanks to her hard work and dedication to her therapy program, she is back to walking her dog in the park and enjoying life.”

Mr. Glover worked with Ethel in a way that would allow her to continue her everyday tasks. He customized an exercise program for her that included balance, strength and flexibility; while also assessing the need for an assistive device.

“Mr. Glover made my ankles stronger. He even went the extra mile and would join me in walking my dog at the park. I am just thrilled and I am so fortunate to be living in a time that this service is available to me. I wish my parents could have had Accolade,” stated Ethel Anderson.

Wendee Brosig, OTR, explained what Accolade offers to fall patients, “There are many reasons that people fall. It could be their medications, weakness or their environment that is putting them at risk. Our job at Accolade is to do a thorough assessment and determine the reason a person is falling. Once we determine the reason or reasons and the risk factors that could lead to future falls, we choose the disciplines that need to be involved to mitigate the risk. Once a patient has received target interventions, they are more confident with their ability and their fear is reduced or eliminated.”

“I don’t have a fear of falling anymore but I did before I had physical therapy. I still get tired but I am able to take my dog on longer walks. All of the exercises were excellent and it wasn’t too much and was an appropriate pace. I tell everyone if they had a choice, they need to choose Accolade. My physical therapist was excellent, kind and worked hard with me. I am so happy. I appreciate him,” Ethel said.

“We see people with varying abilities and needs, so we customize a program to fit each person. Every person is unique and our goal may be to help someone to walk through their front door or even take a stroll with their dog in the park,” stated Wendee.

Accolade Homecare

Based in Denton, Texas, Kindstar Corporation DBA, Accolade Homecare’s Management, has served Home Health and Hospice patients for more than 20 years. Accolade has 25 locations throughout Texas and Oklahoma. Nurses and therapists visit patients in their homes to evaluate symptoms and provide treatment.

Accolade’s sophisticated specialty programs focus on the patient and includes family members every step of the way. Accolade’s services incorporate treatment for post surgical needs, cardiac care, COPD, Parkinson’s care, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, vestibular disorders, foot care, physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy. Specialists also provide training for wound care and Ostomy care, internal nutrition and diabetes. Accolade’s hospice offers a special kind of care designed to meet the physical, emotional and spiritual needs of terminally ill patients and their families.

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