Fall Prevention Focus of Caregivers during October

PORTLAND, OR, October 07, 2012 (Press-News.org) Every 15 seconds an older adult falls and becomes injured. In fact, falls are the number one cause of both fatal and non-fatal injuries in people age 65 and over. Reducing falls is becoming a global priority both for overstrained health care systems and for elders and their families.

This month with the official start of autumn, the Institute for Professional Care Education (www.ipced.com) is sponsoring its fall awareness campaign titled "Changing the Colors: Fall Prevention and Awareness Month."

During this month long focus on preventing falls and resultant injuries, IPCed is sponsoring a free one hour webinar that is NAB approved for Nursing and Assisted Living Administrator CEU credit on the topic of Fall Prevention as well as special products and publications designed to help caregivers, both family and professionals, gain the upper hand in preventing injuries due to falling.

Featured are award-winning training DVDs in both English and Spanish accompanied by support materials for use by family and professional caregivers as well as organizations that train and educate caregivers throughout the country. Publications offered at special discount during this month include exercise books for elders and two DVD/book combination packages offered at a significant savings.

"Falls can not only result in life-altering injuries but can also make a person hesitant in walking or moving around without help. Often, a single fall can result in loss of independent mobility for a person even if an injury does not occur," comments Sharon K. Brothers, the CEO of IPCed. Brothers adds that caregivers can be instrumental in helping prevent falls in the first place but are equally important in encouraging continued, safe mobility once a fall occurs. "Exercise, especially walking, helps keep a person strong and mobile. This in turn can prevent injury even if a fall occurs." Brothers mentions that knowing how to respond to a fall quickly and appropriately is the subject of one of IPCed's most popular online courses, too.

"Caregivers want to know how to help and sometimes just some clear, focused information can make all the difference in preventing falls and responding quickly and appropriate if a fall does occur. Knowing how to prevent falls and how to respond if a fall happens is part of being a good caregiver," Brothers notes.

Brothers and her team of professionals at IPCed offer training resources to Veteran's caregivers, family caregivers, and professional caregivers working in home care, assisted living, and other care settings. Throughout the month, the IPCed team will be working with caregivers in a wide range of settings to educate them in this very important area of health, safety, and quality of life.

For more information about the free Fall Prevention webinar or any of the special training products offered by the Institute for Professional Care Education, contact them at http://www.ipced.com or by calling toll free 877-843-8374.

Contact: Sharon Brothers