Activities and classes are scheduled throughout the months of September and October to highlight falls prevention education for seniors. In 2010, with nearly 120,000 seniors living in Montgomery County, there were 3,294 calls to 9-1-1 attributed to falls by individuals over the age of 60. Nearly 2,100 of those falls were by individuals over the age of 80.

“Falls are the leading cause of injury-related emergency room visits and hospital admissions for Marylanders over the age of 65—but are highly preventable,” said Odile Brunetto, director of the County’s Area Agency on Aging.

Falls can cause serious injuries, such as hip fractures, which can require long-term recovery in a hospital or nursing home and reduce the quality of life for individuals. Falls are also a costly injury, resulting in more than $225 million in hospital out-patient visits and hospital admissions charges for Marylanders in 2009.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) encourages seniors to take the following steps to prevent falls:

1. Exercise regularly to improve strength and balance
2. Ask a health care provider to review your medicines
3. Have vision checked
4. Make the home environment safer 

Upcoming falls prevention activities are listed below:

Brains Don’t Bounce: Falls and Memory
Susan Wranik, MS, MA, CCC-SLP, Speech-Language Pathologist

Tuesday, September 4 - 3:00 p.m.

Ingleside at King Farm
701 King Farm Blvd., Rockville
240-499-9019 ‎

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Bodyworks and Balance Class
Karen Finkleman, exercise instructor

Friday, Sept. 7 - 10:30am

Ring House
1801 East Jefferson St., Rockville
301-816-5052

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Beginning Tai Chi

Thursday, Sept. 6 (and future Thursdays) - 11:00 a.m.

Long Branch Senior Center
8700 Piney Branch Rd., Silver Spring
240-777-6965

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Building Blocks of Tai Chi
Emphasizes body awareness and balance
Call 240-777-8085 to register.

Thursday, Sept. 6 (and future Thursdays)  - 11:15 a.m.

Margaret Schweinhaut Senior Center
1000 Forest Glen Rd., Silver Spring
240-777-8085

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Falls Prevention: Aging, Balancing, and Strengthening
Jean Costa, Adventist Home Health

Monday, Sept. 10 - 2:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Forest Oak Towers
101 Odendhal Ave., Gaithersburg
301-926-9703

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Part I: Factors Related to Falls
Part II: Individualized Balance Screenings
Dr. Stacey Buckner, PT

Part I: Wed. Sept. 12 - 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.
Part II: Wed., Sept. 19 - 1:00 - 2:00 p.m.

Rockville Senior Center
1150 Carnation Dr., Rockville
240-314-8810

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Reducing Risk For Falls
Darlene Roth, Advanced Therapeutics

Wednesday Sept. 12 - 1:30-2:30 p.m.

Bedford Court
3701 International Dr., Silver Spring
301-438-6631

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Stand (and Stay) on Your Own Two Feet
Kensington Physical Therapy
RSVP required: 301-915-9219

Thursday, Sept. 13 - 2:00 p.m.

Five Star Residence
8100 Connecticut Ave., Chevy Chase
301-915-9219

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Staying Upright
Shawn Brennan
Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services

Thursday, Sept. 13 - 3:00 p.m.

Elizabeth House
1400 Fenwick La., Silver Spring
301-585-6192

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Falls Risk Assessments
Monday, Sept. 17 - 12:00-2:00 p.m. or
by appointment

Holy Cross Senior Source
8580 Second Ave., Silver Spring
301-754-8800

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Staying Upright
Shawn Brennan
Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services

Tuesday, Sept. 18 - 11:00 a.m.

Longwood Community Center
19300 Georgia Ave., Brookeville
240-777-6920

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Falls Prevention Education

Tuesday, Sept. 18 - 12:00-2:00 p.m.

Holy Cross Senior Source
8580 Second Ave., Silver Spring
301-754-8800

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Brains Don’t Bounce: Falls and Memory
Susan Wranik, MS, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist

Tuesday, Sept. 18 - 3:00pm

Arcola Towers
1135 University Blvd. West, Silver Spring
301-649-1738

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Fall Prevention and Assessment
Dr. Harjinder Kumar, Geriatric Medicine

Wednesday, Sept. 19 - 11:00 a.m.

Gaithersburg Senior Center
80 Bureau Dr. # A, Gaithersburg
301-258-6380

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Falls Prevention: Aging, Balancing, and Strengthening
Jean Costa, Regional Manager or Rehab

Wednesday, Sept. 19 - 10:00 a.m.

Jewish Community Center of Greater Washington
6125 Montrose Rd., Rockville
Debbie Sokobin at 301-348-3760

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Steady as You Go: Avoiding Slips, Trips, and Falls,
Vincent Santiago, Certified Senior Advisor & Dir. Griswold Home Care

Thursday, Sept. 20 - 11:00 a.m.

Bauer Park
14635 Bauer Dr., Rockville
301-460-4547

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Balance Screening

by Suburban Hospital physical therapists

Thursday, Sept. 20 - 1:00 – 3:00 p.m.

Holiday Park Senior Center
3950 Ferrara Dr., Silver Spring
Register for 15 min time slot:
240-777-4999

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Steady as You Go: Avoiding Slips, Trips, and Falls
Vincent Santiago, Certified Senior Advisor and Director of Griswold Home Care, Montgomery County North/Chevy Chase

Friday, Sept. 21 - 11:00 a.m.

Town Center Apartments
90 Monroe St., Rockville
301-251-2955

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Staying Upright
Shawn Brennan
Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services

Monday, Sept. 24 - 11:00 a.m.

Mid-County Community Center
2004 Queensguard Rd., Silver Spring
240-777-6820

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Matter of Balance
To register, call 301-754-8800.

Tuesdays Sept. 25 – Nov. 13 - 1:00-3:00 p.m.

Holy Cross Senior Source
8580 Second Ave., Silver Spring
301-754-8800

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Upright! Balance Training
Must first attend Fall Risk Assessment on Sept. 17. Call to register, 201-754-8800.

Mondays and Wednesdays, Sept 24 - Dec.12, 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.

Holy Cross Senior Source
8580 Second Ave., Silver Spring
301-754-8800

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Fall Prevention, Safe Mobility Techniques and Body Mechanics
Leslie Taylor, RN
BrightStar Healthcare

Wednesday, Sept. 26 - 2:20 p.m. – 3:20 p.m.

 Holy Cross Adult Daycare Center
9805 Dameron Dr., Silver Spring
301-588-0859 or 301-754-7151

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Falls Prevention Program
Montgomery Home Care Services
Ms. Annette Davis, Executive Director

Thursday, Sept. 27 - 11:30 a.m.

Holly Hall Apartments
10100 New Hampshire Ave., Silver Spring
301-460-1003

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Staying Upright
Shawn Brennan
Montgomery County Department of Health and Human Services

Thursday, Sept. 27 - 3:00 p.m.

Waverly House
4521 East West Hwy. Bethesda
301-986-0054

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Brains Don’t Bounce: Falls and Memory
Susan Wranik, MS, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist

Thursday, Sept. 27 - 3:00 p.m.

Emeritus at Potomac
11215 Seven Locks Rd., Potomac
301-765-9198

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Stand up to Falls
Prevention of Blindness Society of Metropolitan Washington

Sunday, Sept. 30 - 2:00 -3:30 p.m.

Sibley Memorial Hospital Medical Office Bldg.
5212 Loughboro Rd., NW, Washington, D.C.
202-234-1010

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Staying Firm on Your Feet!
Jennifer Werdell, PT
Suburban Hospital

Wednesday, Oct. 10 - 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.

Friendship Heights Village Center
4433 South Park Ave., Chevy Chase
301-656-2797


For information from the National Institutes on Health related to decreasing falls risk, go to http://nihseniorhealth.gov/ and search for “Falls and Older Adults.”