Fall prevention programme keeping elderly up

She said most citizens wrongly assume falling is a normal consequence of ageing.

Speaking yesterday at the launch of the National Fall Prevention Programme held at the Diamond Vale Community Centre, Diego Martin, Rauseo said it is a free programme to address the problem of falls in older adults.

During her research, Rauseo said there is no national statistic on falls.

She said falls could lead to injury and the fear of falling which leads to loss of independence, increased financial strain, depression, anxiety, and even a shorter life span.

“No longer it is okay to sit in the gallery and watch life pass you by just because you are old,” Rauseo said.

“Getting old should be about independence, integration and mobility. Falls are not to be taken lightly, and one in every four elderly people over the age of 65 will fall each year. Falling once double your chances of falling again.” Rauseo said the programme is extremely important because “Trinis” do not speak about falling.

The programme is expected to also enhance the quality of life for older adults by attempting to reduce their risk of falling.

“You are our older adults, our source of wisdom, experience, and historical identity, not only about our country but about ourselves.

You are the bridge between how it was then and how it is now, and if that bridge collapses we are stranded into today without a sense of where we came from or who we are.

“For too long our older adults have been an undeserved community and it is time to change that.

Rauseo said Total Rehabilitation Centre Limited has joined forces with the Physiotherapy Association of Trinidad and Tobago, students from the Physical Therapy Department of Springfield College, USA, and the Orange House Foundation to pool their expertise to create the programme.