By Gabriel Diaz
We usually take for granted the ease of walking worry-free. For senior citizens, the act of walking can be wrought with dangers as their bodies age.
On April 1st, LiveOn NY, in partnership with the Presbyterian Senior Services (PSS) Parkside Senior Center, sponsored “April Falls Day,” a wellness fair designed to help older Bronx residents prevent falls. The fair took place in the Parkside Senior Center of Parkside Houses in the Bronx. Canes and walkers were the accessories of the day. Within the first 20 minutes, 40 senior citizens had already signed up. Seniors showed grace and humor but the numbers suggested that they took the issue seriously.
Falls are the leading cause of injury among older New Yorkers, according to the New York City Department of Health. Each year more than 45,000 are treated for falls and approximately 17,000 are hospitalized. While the statistics may seem staggering, experts say most falls by senior citizens are preventable by taking easy steps.
Organizers explained that an individual’s environment, as well as the general fear of falling, especially after an initial fall or scare, greatly enhance the risk of further falls. Seniors were given a “falls checklist,” highlighting the factors that could lead to an increased chance of having a fall injury. Factors included side effects of medications, clutter in the home, and prior falls in the past year.
Participants took part in exercises that were intended to stretch out their muscles and assist in keeping their balance. Dr. Michael Bogaiski was there to monitor seniors, give them advice on lifestyle choices and offer suggestions on how to improve their gait. Bogaiski, doctor for senior evaluations of the Division of Geriatrics at Montefiore, diagnosed their foot sensitivity, noted the required sole thickness and recommended changes in footwear. Other services included an aerobics workshop designed to improve seniors exercise techniques.
According to the Department of Health, the number of falls and the costs to treat fall injuries are likely to increase with the population aging. Resources are in demand now, especially in the Bronx where poverty is also a contributing factor. “There’s a definite connection between socio-economic status and disease conditions that are associated with the risk of falling,” says Dr. Bogaiski.
He listed obesity, hypertension, and diabetes among some of the other high-risk factors prevalent in the Bronx. “There is a lot of need for exercise programs, sort of catered to the person…and individualized therapy at home,” said Bogaiski. “We’re coming here to the senior center because this is where everyone is, but there are people who are at home who aren’t coming because they don’t have access.”
Liz-Pizarro-Robinson, director of the PSS Parkside Senior Center, believes that the local community is a special at-risk population, with the higher incidence of seniors living alone, thus increasing the likelihood of a serious fall leading to injury.
She described challenges facing one senior who frequented the center. “For her to get to her local soup kitchen, [or a] local pantry, she would have to do that on her own, she’s exposing herself to the elements a lot more than somebody that can maybe just order in,” said Robinson.
She says that most people believe their parents would never be alone as they age, but that is not the reality. “Most of these individuals don’t see their children for months or years on end,” she said. She believes that finances also greatly affect the risks of falling in the community. Hoarding, where seniors clutter their homes to the point where it becomes unsafe, is also a big problem in the community, she added.
Robinson was very engaging with her clients and could be overheard throughout the fair calling every individual in the wellness fair by their first name. “Tina, how are you? Tim, are going to see the doctor soon?”
Rachel Lamy, an intern with CATCH Healthy Habits, attended the April Fall Day to promote healthy living. She asked seniors about their current diets and gave healthier alternatives. “We have the concept of whoa! and go! foods, which is bad and good foods, and we serve a curriculum guide to a better diet,” said Lamy.
Paulina, one of the seniors at the event, said her medical conditions were piling up. In 2000, she suffered a stroke that left her in a coma for four days. In 2005 she suffered a mini-stroke which affected her balance and her memory. She said that she suffers from high-blood pressure and loss of appetite. But at the wellness fair, Paulina was all spunk, cracking dry jokes and describing her ailments in a rather matter-of-fact tone.
All of the April Fall Day services were open to the entire community free of charge. The staff treated the seniors with dignity and tried to help them reclaim what is dear to all adults — their independence.
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