Preventing Falls | Video

Michelle San Miguel | 10/11/2012

Many things become more difficult as you get older, even just walking around your own home. Weakened muscles and chronic conditions increase your chances of falling. More than 400 people in North Dakota have died from falling since 2007. Falls are the leading cause of injury and death for older Americans, and it can be prevented.

Just about everyone here knows someone who has fallen.

"My college roommate fell down a flight of stairs and laid there all night long with a broken hip until her daughter found her the next morning," said Mary Brebik.

Brebik fell last year when she was on her way to do some volunteer work. And she`s determined not to have that happen again. That`s why she signed up for a seven week fall prevention workshop taught by physical therapy students at the University of Mary.

"We are just so excited for this opportunity to work with our community and be servants in our community as well as being able to provide a service that is just so needed," said student Samantha Christensen.

These graduate students are taking the class seriously. They`re even assigning seniors homework, showing them exercises they can do at home to improve their balance and strength.

Diana Read- The main benefit is to keep seniors independent, living on their own so they can stay in their own homes, their own environment and enjoy life to its fullest," said North Dakota Department of Health Injury/Violence Program Director Diana Reed.

"Because of the neuoropathy in my feet that I have a hard time balancing so I have to be very careful. The doctor said I don`t feel the ground when I`m walking so that makes it more unsteady," Brebik said.

But she says a class like this is helping her regain her confidence to be able to continue living alone.

Falls don`t just break bones. According to the CDC, falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries. If you`d like to join the fall prevention workshop, there`s still space available.

The class meets every Thursday from 9:00 to 11:00 at the Bismarck Senior Center through the end of November. For more information on the fall prevention workshop, contact Diana Read at (701) 328-4537.

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