Falls Prevention Program is expanding to Wayne and Ashland Counties

NEWS RELEASE
Falls Prevention Program is expanding to Wayne and Ashland Counties Millersburg, OH –
The Holmes County General Health District has been awarded the Injury-Falls grant from the Ohio Department of Health for a third time. The Holmes County Falls Prevention Project (HCFPP) led by the Holmes County General Health District (HCGHD) aims to reduce the burden of falls among adults age 60 or older living in Holmes, Wayne, and Ashland Counties. A regional approach was selected to enhance and expand the existing structure of falls among adults 60 and over due to its effectiveness in Holmes County. The Falls Prevention Program will now be known as Falls Prevention Program of Holmes, Wayne, & Ashland. The five-year grant cycle began October 1, 2023 and runs through September 30, 2028.
Kerry MacQueen, Health Educator/ Injury Prevention Coordinator (IPC) of the HCGHD will lead the HCFPP with assistance from current and new stakeholders/partners within the HCFPP region. These stakeholders include Jill Hartson and Jean Neel of the Ashland County Health Department, and Elesa Eaken of the Wayne County Health Department. MacQueen is responsible for coordinating and running grant funded activities, and monitoring progress towards achieving proposed objectives of the Falls Prevention Program of Holmes, Wayne, & Ashland (FPP). MacQueen is the tri-chair of the Public and Provider Awareness Sub-Committee of the Ohio Older Adults Falls Prevention Coalition and offers input in falls prevention strategies. MacQueen is the co-chair of the local Standing Against Falls Coalition. She is a Certified Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, master trainer for A Matter of Balance, a facilitator for Stepping On, a Certified Instructor for Geri-Fit, and a Certified Adult Vision Screener.
The HCFPP aims to make a difference in falls prevention within the newly established regional approach by completing these objectives: 1) enhancing the Standing Against Falls (SAF) Coalition through increased involvement of current stakeholders with added partners from Wayne and Ashland Counties, 2) educating and then implementing components of Stopping Elderly Accidents Deaths & Injuries (STEADI created by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) in primary care settings in the region with enhancement of falls education to already established primary care partners and healthcare providers in Holmes County, 3) identifying, implementing and enhancing an innovative home safety assessment and modification program with current and new fire/EMS partners, where these partners would provide a brief home safety assessment during a free smoke detector installation, as well as provide home safety self-assessment tools as requested by individual with follow-up from the HCGHD and health department partners, 4) increasing the availability of evidence-based balance and mobility classes through training of A Matter of Balance coaches and Stepping On peer facilitators within the region, 5) partnering with local and regional pharmacies to practice medication therapy management with enhancement of medication reviews, and 6) promoting positive aging and falls are NOT a natural part of aging through a social marketing campaign within the HCFPP region, including special events. All partners of the FPP have the opportunity to refer individuals to the FPP.
These objectives were chosen because falls have reached epidemic proportions within the 60 and over population. Data compiled by the Ohio Department of Health Bureau of Vital Statistics during the years 2016-2021, found that Wayne County is in the top ten of unintentional fall related deaths within the 60 and over population out of the 88 counties in Ohio. Over the last five years, Ashland County reported the highest percentage of 65 and over patients requiring care at an Emergency Department (ED) for fall-related injuries, with the highest year being 2022, in which 9.6% of the population suffered a serious fall. Falls were the lowest for Ashland County in 2019, at only 6.7% of their population; however, over the last four years Ashland County experienced a 30% increase in fall related older adult injuries. By comparison, fall related ED visits for 65 and over residents were also greatest in Wayne County in 2022, with 6.6% occurrence. These percentages were reportedly lowest in 2018 and 2020 at 4.9%, which constitutes a 26% increase in the occurrence of older adult falls over the last three years. Finally, Holmes County had the highest number of fall related injuries in 2019, at 5.1%, which has steadily decreased to 4.5% in 2022
Data was further gathered by Jill Decker, epidemiologist of the HCGHD, and found during the years 2018- 2022, there was a total of 11,301 ED visits within the HCFPP region with the highest ED visits in the 65-74 age range. Women accounted for more fall-related ED visits than men. Health Improvement Zones that have the highest ED falls rates will be targeted for evidence-based falls prevention programs. These zones are located in Millersburg (Holmes County/44654), Wooster (Wayne County/44691), and Loudonville/Mohicanville/Ashland (Ashland County/44842/44805).
As the FPP moves toward a regional approach, Holmes, Wayne, and Ashland Counties will be providing evidence-based fall prevention programs that can help individuals to develop the tools needed to prevent falls from occurring for themselves and others. All programs are offered at no charge. The FPP will also be expanding the Standing Against Falls Coalition. The Coalition works to increase public awareness on falls prevention through education, special events, home safety, physical activity, and promoting positive aging.
Recently, the Standing Against Falls Coalition recognized their 56 partners and stakeholders that assisted the Falls Prevention Program during the 2018-2023 grant cycle at the January 9, 2024 quarterly meeting. A letter of recognition and Certificate of Appreciation was sent to these agency partners: Faith Lutheran Church of Millersburg, Sunshine Villa, Ripley Church of Christ, Nashville Global Methodist Church, Killbuck Global Methodist Church, Nashville Church of Christ, Clark Community Center, Berlin Mennonite Church, Darb Snyder Senior Center, Walnut Hills Senior Living Community, Pomerene Hospital, Holmes County District Public Library, Danbury Senior Living- Millersburg, Holmes County Home, Holmes County Park District, Nathan Troyer of the Village of Millersburg, Holmes County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Cemetery Board of Killbuck Cemetery, New Hope Community Church in Loudonville, Cheryl’s L.I.F.E. Fitness Studio, Prairie Township Library, Walmart Vision, Modern Hearing Solutions, Premier Pharmacy of Berlin and Millersburg, Active Chiropractic, Holmes Family Medicine, East Holmes Family Care, Millersburg Clinic, Holmes County Fire District #1, East Holmes Fire & EMS, Killbuck Township Fire & EMS, and Performance Foot & Ankle. Also recognized with a letter and a Certificate of Appreciation were these individuals: Fall Prevention Ambassadors: Mary Howell, Janet Zimmerman, Charlotte Grosjean, Regina Semko, Shirley Pringle, Judy Varner, Jim Miller, Liane Eyster, Phyllis Gilmore, Don & Tina Mackey, Pam Leach, Debbie Jewell, and Lois Fowler. The Ambassadors have assisted with 14 special events of the FPP during 2023 and has served over 120 individuals at these events. Medical Reserve Corps volunteers: Kristin Yabroff, Len Jorz, Jim Nusbaum, and Ramona Stoner due to their assistance during Healthy Aging Clinics. Evidence-based falls prevention program instructors, facilitators, coaches, and/or peer facilitators: Deb Zuercher, Phyllis Gilmore, Pam Leach, Lola Yeater, Kate Shumaker (OSU Extension-Holmes), and Cheryl Seabright (Cheryl’s L.I.F.E. Fitness). Without the active involvement, dedication, and encouragement, the Falls Prevention Program would not have been able to successfully serve the 60 and over population living in Holmes County and surrounding areas during the 2018-2023 grant cycle!
If you would like more information on the Falls Prevention Program of Holmes, Wayne, and Ashland, including the falls prevention evidence-based programs offered and home safety self-assessment tools, please contact Kerry MacQueen at the HCGHD, 330-674-5035 EXT. 251.