Be safe this fall!

PROVIDENCE – One out of three adults 65 and older suffers a fall each year. Falls are the most common cause of traumatic brain injuries and the leading cause of injury death among older adults, according to a release from The Miriam Hospital. In 2009, 2.2 million fall injuries among older adults were treated in emergency departments and more than 581,000 of these patients were hospitalized. However, falls are a public health problem that can be prevented.

The Miriam Hospital and the Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island are again hosting a multidisciplinary safety fair to provide information about fall prevention and ways to improve safety in the home. The event, free and open to the community, will be at the Alliance JCC, 401 Elmgrove Ave., Providence, on Sept. 22 from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Free fall risk screenings will be available, including balance assessments and vision, hearing, nutrition and mood and memory screenings.

Experts will lead interactive discussions on maintaining bone health, medication safety at home, ways to make the home environment safer and healthy food and fitness for active seniors.

For more information: 444-4800 or miriamhospital.or or Wendy Joering, 421-4111, ext. 169.