CANADA: Mobile Clinic to Prevent Risk of Falls

VANCOUVER (Canadian Press), September 22, 2007: A team of health experts is taking to the road in a clinic that aims to help seniors reduce their risk of falling and injuring themselves. The Mobile Falls and Injury Prevention Clinic, sponsored by the Fraser Health Authority, is believed to be the first of its kind of Canada. Program manager Fabio Feldman says fall-related injuries among seniors can be devastating and lead to costs that are three times higher than those related to car accidents. Seniors who attend the clinic will get a custom report aimed at reducing their risk of falling and injuring themselves and a personalized activity program, along with information on osteoporosis and samples of calcium and vitamin D. The clinic is made up of six stations where seniors will be examined by a nurse, a pharmacist, a kinesiologist, a biomechanics expert and a physiotherapist. Feldman says the clinic is open to seniors over 60 with one or more falls in the last six months or those who have been referred from Fraser Health's geriatric clinics, emergency rooms and home health offices. Copyright © 2007 The Canadian Press.