Quarry Hill to Offer Fall Prevention at November Health and Safety Fair
Rehabilitation specialists from Quarry Hill Retirement Community in Camden will offer free balance testing to help older adults avoid falls during Pen Bay Healthcare's Community Health and Safety Fair, on Saturday, November 8, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Rockland District High School.
Physical therapist Michele Butler, rehabilitation manager for Quarry Hill and The Knox Center for Long Term Care, invited fairgoers to visit Quarry Hill's booth for a simple, two-minute balance test that involves getting up from a chair and walking. The widely accepted "Get up and Go" challenge helps identify older adults who have balance deficits that put them at risk for dangerous falls.
"Balance issues can be so subtle, people often don't know they have a problem," Butler said. She explained that deficits may develop as a side effect of common conditions such as arthritis, Parkinson's disease, or stroke, or as a natural consequence of aging.
"Becoming aware of any balance problems you may have—even if they're only minor—gives you an opportunity to learn ways to compensate and thereby avoid falls," Butler said.
An annual event, Pen Bay Healthcare's Health & Safety Fair features exhibits and demos on everything from healthy cooking to safe car seats for children. This year’s lineup will also include free flu shots for eligible children and adults; cholesterol, blood pressure, and hearing and speech screenings; and much more. For more information about the fair, visit www.pbmc.org/healthfair