From our friends at Fauquier Health:

One of every three adults 65 years and older falls each year; falls are among the top ten causes of death for seniors. Fauquier Health and Aging Together are partnering to educate the community about the danger of falls and how easily they can be prevented. Falls are not an inevitable part of aging. They are preventable.

The Falls Prevention Symposium will be held Wednesday, November 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in
Fauquier Hospital’s Sycamore Room. Local experts will showcase the most effective ways to prevent
falls; most are practical, cheap, and easy to accomplish. They include good medication management,
vision assessment, exercise, and home or environmental modifications.

Deb Muir, occupational therapist at Fauquier Hospital and yoga instructor at Fauquier Health Wellness
Center, says that many seniors are concerned about falling. “A lot of my older clients tell me that they
don’t shower but rather sponge bathe because of a fear of falling. They are unable to step in and out
of the tub, can’t stand long enough or don’t have the balance to shower. For some of these patients,
exercises like yoga, tai chi, or walking in a pool could help to improve their strength and balance
enough to increase their safety in the shower; for others a tub transfer bench and a grab bar would
make showering safe again.”

This event is free and includes lunch, but participants must register to attend. Contact Aging Together
at 540-829-6405 or info@agingtogether.org by October 31.