Program helps seniors stay on their feet

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related hospitalizations for older adults, and the North East Local Health Integration Network hopes its Stay on Your Feet program can help curb the numbers in northeastern Ontario.

Every year, more than 1,200 seniors in the northeast are admitted to hospital emergency departments after suffering a fall.

The North East LHIN hosted a fall prevention forum in late 2012 to help address the problem, and in April 2015 launched the Stay on Your Feet program, in collaboration with the region's five health units.

The program was modelled after an Australian program of the same name, that offers free exercise and falls prevention classes for seniors.

To offer the programs, the North East LHIN is providing $500,000 per year to the health units over three years.

It has been a “well kept secret” until now, and on Tuesday the North East LHIN and its partners launched a campaign to promote Stay on Your Feet through commercials, posters and outreach with media.

“Now that it's underway, we needed to do a campaign to let everyone know about it,” said North East LHIN CEO Louise Paquette.

Glenn Yurich has already taken the fall prevention course three times, so she can continue to improve her health and stability.

About two years ago Yurich was dancing with her grandchildren when she tripped and fell.

“We twirled around, and I went down,” she said. “Bang! They couldn't get me up and I couldn't get myself up.”

Yurich was eventually able to brace herself with a stool to get up. She was not injured from her fall, but said it had scared her young grandchildren, and was a shock to her own system.

“It left such an impact,” she said.

A friend had told her about the Stay on Your Feet program, and she called to Sudbury and District Health Unit to find out where she could go for the courses.

When she arrived at her first class at the ParkSide Centre, she realized she had a lot of room for improvement.

“I couldn't walk on my toes, I couldn't take off my shoes or tie my shoelaces because I let myself go,” Yurich said.

But the instructors were welcoming and friendly, and with some easy exercises – such as trying to walk on her toes and heels – she started to improve her strength and balance.

Now she easily walks up and down her stairs at home and says she has improved tremendously.

For more information about the Stay on Your Feet program, or to register for free classes, visit the North East LHIN website, or phone the Sudbury and District Health Unit at 1-855-674-4330.