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Reduce your risk for falls
A FEW
small changes in your home
can dramatically change your risk for
falling. Consider taking these steps:
»
»
Clear the floor.
Move furniture
so that you have a clear path, and
remove clutter from all walkways. Tape
or wrap cords and wires to keep them
out of footpaths.
»
»
Repair your stairs.
Fix any uneven
or loose steps or stairs, and add non-
slip rubber treads where necessary.
Also keep the stairs clutter-free.
»
»
Light up your life
.
Keep your home
well-lit, especially at the tops and
bottoms of stairs. Keep a lamp close
to your bed, and place night-lights in
bathrooms and hallways.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Health and Wellness
6
YOUR CHECKLIST FOR SAFETY
Thousands of older people fall in their homes every year. But many of
these falls can be prevented. For more information, visit
www.cdc.gov
and
search for “A Home Fall Prevention Checklist for Older Adults.”
Arlene Okamoto
50+ Health Connection/
Senior Services
Coordinator
The following seminars are
free
.
Both seminars are presented in
English free of charge at the Arcadia
Community Center, 365 Campus
Drive, in Arcadia. For reservations,
please call
626-574-5130
. No seminar
is scheduled in May.
Stroke: Symptoms,
Diagnosis and Treatment
Tuesday, April 24
1:30–2:30 p.m.
Kenneth Wogensen, MD,
neurologist and Medical Director,
Methodist Hospital Stroke Program
A stroke is a condition in which a
blood clot or ruptured blood vessel
interrupts blood flow to an area of the
brain. A lack of oxygen and glucose
(sugar) flowing to the brain can cause
the death of brain cells, often resulting
in impairment of speech, movement
or memory.
Dr. Wogensen will discuss the symp-
toms and diagnosis of stroke and what
treatment options are available. Learn
about our stroke program and how
quick response can prevent damage
to the brain and save your life.
Memory Loss and Aging:
What Is Normal, What Is Not
Tuesday, June 26
1:30–2:30 p.m.
Mary Rodas, Silverado Senior
Living—Sierra Vista: The Huntington
It is normal to forget where you’ve put
your checkbook, but it’s not normal
to forget which bank your money
is in! There are lifestyle factors that
cause memory impairment—and there
are ways to reverse some causes of
memory loss.
Learn 10 tips to maintain and
improve your memory. Join Mary
Rodas, community ambassador with
Silverado Senior Living and member
of the Los Angeles Alzheimer’s
Association Speaker’s Bureau, who
will provide an energetic discussion of
normal and abnormal memory loss.
Also available will be a free and
confidential memory screening
sponsored by the Alzheimer’s
Foundation of America and Silverado
Senior Living.
For anyone concerned about
memory loss or experiencing
warning signs, memory screening
is not a diagnosis but a simple tool
to help prepare you for your next
physician appointment.
What does footwear have to do with falls?
Shoes with thick or slippery soles can cause
you to lose your footing and take a tumble.
Avoid athletic or jogging
shoes that have thick soles,
and choose pairs with thin,
nonslip soles. And stay
away from slippers. The
name alone says it all!
Who should get a shingles
vaccination?
Think you’re too old for
shots? Think again. Adults
age 60 and older should get a
shingles vaccination, because
older adults who have had
chickenpox are most at risk for
this painful rash.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention