NC Governor Beverly Perdue has proclaimed September 20-26 as Falls Prevention Awareness Week. “Adults age 65 and older have a 30-50-percent chance of falling, and that risk increases as people age,” State Health Director Jeffrey Engel, MD, said. “Since adults are the fastest growing population in North Carolina, we want to make sure they are aware of ways to reduce their chances of having a life-altering fall.” Physicians, clinics and others interested in observing Falls Prevention Awareness Week can find resources and activity ideas at: http://www.healthyagingprograms.org/content.asp?sectionid=149. Additional resources are available from the CDC at: http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/preventingfalls/. For more about the NC Falls Prevention Coalition, see at: http://www.injuryfreenc.ncdhhs.gov/ForHealthProfessionals/FallsCoalition.htm.
