Fall Prevention Strategies Continue to be Top of Mind for Americans
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Fall Prevention Strategies Continue to be Top of Mind for Americans

2015 White House Conference on Aging Identifies Falls as Critical Issue, BrightStar Care Leads the Cause to Educate on Reducing Risks for Older Adults

CHICAGO - September 03, 2015 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - The 2015 White House Conference on Aging marked the 50th anniversary of Medicare, Medicaid, and the Older Americans Act, sparking conversation on how to tackle various issues surrounding aging Americans. One of these issues was fall prevention, an important component to Healthy Aging, which was one of the four major themes of the conference.

As National Fall Prevention Awareness month (September) approaches, BrightStar Care, a national home care franchise with more than 280 locations that provide medical and non-medical care to patients from infants to elders, is seeking to educate Americans on risk factors that can contribute to these deadly falls. BrightStar Care is actively providing educational advice on fall prevention and working as a clinical ally to both clients and families looking to identify a loved one’s risk of falling.

After being awarded the Joint Commission’s 2015 Enterprise Champion for Quality Care award for the third year in a row, BrightStar Care continues to validate their commitment to providing high quality in-home care backed by the highest clinical standards. In addition to their delivery of quality, compassionate in-home care services, BrightStar Care is following the lead of the 2015 National Falls Prevention Plan crafted at the White House Conference on Aging by providing expert tips and advice to help families reduce the risk of their loved one falling.

With one out of three adults aged 65 and over suffering a fall each year, Sharon Roth Maguire, MS, RN, GNP-BC, Chief Clinical Quality Officer of BrightStar Care, offers the following preventative measures that seniors and their families can take to actively combat the main causes of falling amongst seniors:

Take the proper home safety measures and modifications to reduce home hazards that may attribute to falls

  • Store important items in lower shelves/cabinets
  • Clear all cords and wires out hallways and doorways
  • Install ramps or sturdy handrails on indoor/outdoor staircases
  • Install handrails and non-slip mats in the bathroom

Be educated on both the prescription and nonprescription medication that a loved one is taking

  • Falling is a common adverse effect of some medications
  • Be sure to ask your pharmacist if medications associated with falls can be reduced or switched to a safer alternative

Shift educational messages on falling to be positive and focused on healthy living/wellness

  • Promote physical mobility and exercise to both support independent living and reduce falling

Make sure to have the proper help

  • Certain chronic conditions, such as Parkinson’s or heart disease, can increase the risk of falling. Make sure a loved one is properly cared for and that their treatment plans are being followed

BrightStar Care locations nationwide are committed to meeting National Patient Safety Goals around fall prevention. As part of their comprehensive approach to reducing the likelihood of clients experiencing a fall and promoting overall wellness, a BrightStar Care Registered Nurse performs an evaluation of fall risk during initial and subsequent in-home health assessments for every client. Proactive measures to address fall risk are then incorporated into personalized plans of care to promote safety in addition to addressing the specific care needs of each client.

For more information on fall prevention, visit BrightStar Care’s “Focus on Falls” page. To find helpful tips, videos, blog articles and downloads geared toward helping families to mobilize around fall prevention, please see the Elderly Fall Resource Center.

For more information about BrightStar Care, please visit www.brightstarcare.com.

About BrightStar Care

Based in Chicago, BrightStar Care is a national private duty home care and medical staffing franchise with more than 280 locations that can provide medical and non-medical services to clients within their homes, as well as supplemental care staff to corporate clients. BrightStar Care professional nurses and caregivers deliver expert, compassionate, and personal care 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Each BrightStar Care location is required to pursue Joint Commission Accreditation. BrightStar Care received The Joint Commission’s Enterprise Champion for Quality award in 2013, 2014, and 2015, and is committed to having each of its agencies comply with Joint Commission standards. BrightStar Care uses the nationally known patient satisfaction survey company Press Ganey to measure client satisfaction and is proud that nine out of 10 clients would recommend BrightStar Care to a friend or family member. For more information on BrightStar Care please visit brightstarcare.com; to find out more about BrightStar Franchising, visit www.brightstarfranchise.com.

SOURCE BrightStar Care

Contact: 

Alissa Stevens
Fishman Public Relations
847-945-1300 ex.257
astevens@fishmanpr.com

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