Not Taking The Fall

Each year, millions of older people – one in four of those aged 65 or older – suffer a fall, leading to three million emergency room visits annually. “Falling once doubles your chances of falling again,” according to the CDC. The phrase “I’ve fallen, and I can’t get up” has gone from an advertising slogan to meme status.  

With Marco Island’s large senior population, this is a serious health concern, and NCH is introducing a new program specifically to deal with it. The NCH Better Balance Program “takes steps” based on what their physical therapy professionals have already been doing and formalizes the initiative to heighten awareness and help keep seniors on their feet and off the ground.  

At their Marco Island campus on Heathwood Drive, NCH has a staff of 10 dedicated therapists, including physical, occupational, and speech therapists, under the direction of Manager of Therapy Operations Hetty Toms, PT, DPT. Two are vestibular therapists, specially trained to deal with vertigo, a leading cause of falls.  

“Our goal is to prevent falls,” said Toms. “The best way to treat a fall is to prevent it. We look at all aspects of balance.” When they identify someone who could benefit from physical therapy to help their balance – and that encompasses a wide swath of the population – “we create an individualized exercise program targeted just for you,” said Toms. “We do in-depth testing for strength, balance, and range of motion” – all of the risk factors that can contribute to a catastrophic fall.  

To determine whether this program is right for you, NCH has three questions: “Do you feel unsteady when standing or walking? Are you worried about falling? Have you fallen in the past year?” 

Risk factors include balance issues, lower extremity weakness, advanced age, poor vision, chronic conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, incontinence, dementia, and even fear of falling.  

The first step to participate in the Better Balance Program is to contact your primary care physician and obtain a referral for a balance assessment. With that in hand, make an appointment, and the friendly, competent professionals at NCH will take it from there. Typically, they will schedule a series of appointments, lead the patient through treatments on their array of sophisticated BioDex equipment, give them further exercises they can follow up with at home, and assess the need for assistive medical devices. The treatments are fully covered by Medicare and most insurance plans.  

Hilles Hughes, community engagement specialist for NCH, pointed out that the Outpatient Rehabilitation Center renovation was underwritten by a gift from the Barbara and Steve Slaggie family, who have given millions to NCH on Marco Island.   

As an additional service, the physical therapists help patients assess their home and their daily routine for fall-proofing, going over items such as carpets, stairs, grab bars, and proper footwear.  

Marco Island Fire-Rescue Chief Chris Byrne emphasized the prevalence of falls among older residents.  

“In our experience, falls in people 65 and older can result in very serious injuries,” he said. “We respond to many falls – they are the leading cause of serious injury to our elderly population.” Head trauma and fractures, he said, are the most common complications. “Improving one’s balance is very important to preventing falls.”  

One patient, Patrick Thawley, gave an unsolicited testimonial to the physical therapy team at NCH.  

“I’ve been here three times. Every single one of them, without exception, is wonderful,” he said.  

The PTs don’t just wait for patients to come to them. As they did last year, they will be conducting balance assessments each week at the Farmers’ Market, and also, said Dianna Dohm, Marco Urgent Care Board Chair, at the upcoming Jerry Adams Chili Cookoff being held on November 1. 

The goal, said physical therapist Diana Valdes, is to decrease the risk of falling and help people live longer, healthier, happier lives. They enjoy their work, and their enthusiasm is contagious.  

“We have fun here – we want you to feel welcome,” she said.