Fall Prevention Day Fair Offers Tips

LIMA — The Area Agency on Aging played host to its annual Fall Prevention Day fair Tuesday, where seniors in the area interacted with vendors whose organizations and companies can help prevent falls.

Vendors ranged from physical therapy providers and other senior health agencies to hearing aid companies and mobile vaccination clinics.

“People think that with age, people are bound to experience falls, but actually, if seniors remain active, they can avoid falls,” said Kayla Wells, Area Agency on Aging health education coordinator.

Wells also hosts Matter of Balance, Tai Chi and Bingo-cise, which is Bingo with exercise. These events are designed to keep seniors active and reduce risks associated with falling, such as low and high blood pressure and decreased hearing and vision.

Delphos Hearing Aid Center has been a recurring vendor at the Fall Prevention Day Fair. CEO Jane Rosengarten has worked in the hearing aid industry for 42 years.

“When you lose your hearing, it can affect your balance, and that leads to falls, so right now we’re offering free hearing tests. Doctors always recommend hearing and vision tests when talking to seniors about fall prevention,” Rosengarten said.

Walgreens, a first-time vendor at fall prevention day, administered pneumonia and COVID shots to seniors who attended the event. The event ended with a presentation from Mercy Health-St. Rita’s, during which seniors learned about fall risk and fall prevention.