Fire Department Works to Address Falls Epidemic Among Elderly in Wisconsin

(MARSHFIELD, WI) Falls are a public health crisis poised to become an epidemic as Baby Boomers enter the ranks of higher-risk age groups. Wisconsin now leads the nation in deaths attributed to a fall among adults age 65 and older.

While the reasons for Wisconsin’s high falls death rate are unclear, the consequences of a fall can be devastating for older people and their families. The good news is that falls are not a normal part of aging and state and local efforts are underway to prevent them.

To that end, Marshfield’s Fire and Rescue Department (MFRD) and the Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Central Wisconsin are working together to prevent older adult falls in central Wisconsin. In Wood County, nearly 700 people age 65 or older went to the emergency department as the result of a fall in 2017 – 233 people were hospitalized.

To prevent some of those falls, MFRD firefighter Erik Jonas was trained to lead Stepping On – a 7-week falls prevention program that has been researched and proven to reduce falls by 31%.

Stepping On addresses the issues that contribute to falls such as vision problems, medications – even unsafe footwear. Participants also learn strategies for eliminating or avoiding fall hazards inside the home or out in the community, balance and strength exercises, and how to get up safely if a fall does happen.

To date, nearly 450 people have participated in the Stepping On program in Wood County.

“We invest our time in Stepping On because we see that many of these falls are preventable if people learn some simple strategies to avoid them,” says Jonas. “It’s all about public safety.”

According to Ciara Schultz, Health Promotion Coordinator at the ADRC of Central Wisconsin, MFRD is in the unique position to recognize and address the falls problem locally and other fire departments around the state are following suit.

“They’re most often the first-responders on the scene when an older adult falls and needs medical attention,” says Schultz, “so they’re acutely aware of both how devastating and how avoidable a fall can be.”

Falls take a toll physically and emotionally, but they’re financially costly too. Nationally, the total medical costs for falls totaled more than $50 million according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Medicare and Medicaid covered 75% of these costs. Total hospital charges due to a fall-related emergency department visit in Wood County were $2,286,240 in 2017 with an average charge of $3,294. Falls are also a leading cause of nursing home admissions often due to hip fractures or head injuries.

Beyond the skills learned, Stepping On makes people feel more confident in their ability to avoid a fall according to former participant and current Stepping On Peer Leader Rita Johnson. “The whole program is geared toward helping people feel like they have more control over falling. It can be really isolating when you’re worried about falling – and that’s the last thing older people need. Taking Stepping On gives you the tools to better navigate and maintain your independence.”

The Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging (WIHA) is the national license-holder and administrator of the Stepping On program, which to date has been offered in 66 Wisconsin counties with over 17,000 people participating throughout the state. That, according to Kris Krasnowski, Director of Communications at WIHA, is a great start, but there’s plenty more to do.

“Falls prevention is a health issue and we know that people aren’t likely to take charge of their health unless they believe they can be successful,” says Krasnowski. “The partnership between MFRD and the ADRC is a great example of how communities can encourage people to take steps to protect themselves by engaging in programs that can keep them safe and well.”

To learn more about Stepping On or to find a health promotion program in your central Wisconsin community, contact the ADRC of Central Wisconsin at 1-888-486-9545 or visit the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging website at wihealthyaging.org.