Keeping one's balance is key for healthy women

The Healthy Woman Ladies Night Out event on July 26 attracted 220 program members and guests at Fallbrook Hospital’s new Center for Specialty Services. Before the guest speakers were introduced, there was a steady sound of chatter as the women visited with each other while eating a light dinner of pesto chicken pasta salad and fruit salad.

The food was prepared by Stephen Spencer, executive chef of Fallbrook Hospital. While everyone was enjoying the meal, Healthy Woman program director Monique Murphy-Mijares invited them to eat in the hospital cafeteria anytime. She also said that the Healthy Woman program has 37 sponsors this year, including seven new ones.

One of the featured speakers, podiatrist Dr. John Santoro, was unable to attend the event due to a last minute emergency, so Fallbrook Hospital CEO Alex Villa gave a talk on the new services being offered by the hospital. Besides recently adding two podiatrists to the staff and expanding physical therapy and wound care services with the new center, the hospital has hired a female family medicine specialist who will arrive in September. Villa said that the hospital’s next goal is to provide hypobaric therapy in the currently unfinished wing of the Center for Specialty Services.

Villa also said, “We want you to be proud of your hospital; if not, you know who to call,” pointing to himself. He then said that VIP,at Fallbrook Hospital, stands for very important patient. The staff, including Villa, conducts VIP rounds every hour to check on the wellbeing of each patient. Villa concluded with, “The hospital is here to take care of the community.” He then introduced Jennifer Paull, director of rehabilitation services, who spoke about balance and falling.

Paull explained that balance is the ability to maintain a center of gravity, which means “to keep your shoulders over your hips.” Poor balance can be caused by problems with the inner ear, vision, and feet, as well as the effects of medication. She said that exercising prevents the potential for falling for everyone from the elderly to young athletes.

The two most frequent injuries in falls are hip fractures and head wounds. Among the statistics she cited were one out of three adults 65 or older fall each year and falling is the seventh most common cause of death in the elderly. She said that twice as many women as men fall and those who have fallen before are more likely to fall again. People who use assisted devices (canes) or who have arthritis are also more likely to fall as are those with cataracts or neuropathy.

As people age and their strength and range of motion decreases, their risk for falls increases. Declining vision, increased sensitivity to glare and slower response time also contribute to an increased risk for falling. Paull said, “Loss of confidence is a huge component in falls.”

To prevent falls, she recommended general strengthening exercises and sturdy footwear.

Physical therapy for fall prevention, also covered by medical insurance, can teach someone how to properly get up from chairs, do gardening, and other common activities that require balance. Tai chi was also said to be good form of exercise for preventing falls. Paull emphasized that “balance is one of the few things we can get back.”

The Center for Specialty Services, which was open for tours during the Ladies Night Out, will have a fall prevention program, besides an outpatient lab, occupational and speech therapy and wound management. The center will open as soon as licensing signs off on it. Occupational therapist Vikki Haase said the staff is excited to be moving into larger quarters.

Besides a lot of good information on preventing falls, the ladies who attended this Healthy Woman event walked away with a questionnaire and information on foot care provided by Dr. Santoro, information from some of the program sponsors, and leftover food. Some lucky ones also took home door prizes courtesy of many of the sponsors.

The next Healthy Women Ladies Night Out will be on Wednesday, Aug. 24 at Fallbrook Library with the guest speakers to be announced.

Anyone needing help identifying and fixing conditions that can cause falls in their homes can arrange an in-home consultation with Fallbrook Home Health, which should be covered by insurance, by calling (760)

731-7735.

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