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The INDEPENDENT, March 3, 2011
keep your balance – tips provided for fall prevention
Falls are the most common
cause of injury in the United
States, particularly among old-
er adults. Whether it’s a slip on
wet or icy pavement or a trip on
a rug or stairway, the risk of
bruises, broken bones and
back and head injuries is signif-
icant.
“Most people fall due of a
lack of attention, rushing
around or accidental situations,
but some individuals are actu-
ally at greater risk for falling,”
said Joseph Caccavo, physical
therapist at Kessler Institute for
Rehabilitation (www.kessler-re-
hab .com). “Older adults, as
well as those with a history of
low blood pressure, stroke or
neurological disorders, vision
deficits or balance problems,
as well as those taking certain
medications, all face greater
challenges.”
The good news is that there
are ways to minimize the risk of
falling by making simple
changes around the home and
workplace, and improving bal-
ance with proper training and
exercise.
“Clutter is a way of life for
many of us, but it’s something
we can control. Similarly, we
have the tools to effectively
evaluate and treat individuals
who have balance disorders to
help minimize their risk of
falling and optimize their quality
of life,” explained Kessler phys-
ical therapist Michelle O’Keefe.
“In fact, the Department of
Health and Human Services
recommends that older adults
include balance exercises as
part of an overall fitness pro-
gram.”
Kessler’s new Fall Preven-
tion Program (www.kessler-re
hab.com/programs/outpatient-
services/falls.com) draws on
the expertise and experience of
an interdisciplinary team of li-
censed physical, occupational
and speech therapists, includ-
ing certified cognitive, vision
and vestibular specialists, to
determine fall risk and develop
individualized treatment plans.
“Our goal is to help individu-
als maintain balance in their
lives, at home, at work and at
play,” added Kessler occupa-
tional therapist Norma Glen-
non.
To help reduce the risk of
slips, trips and falls and im-
prove balance, Kessler Institute
offers the following recommen-
dations:
• Be sure flooring is in good
condition and remove throw
rugs.
• Clear stairs, hallways and
rooms of clutter and other ob-
stacles.
• Secure or remove any
electrical wires or cords.
• Make sure lighting is ade-
quate both inside and outside
the home – especially on stair-
ways. Install automatic light
sensors, timers or night lights.
• Place a telephone in each
room or carry a cordless phone
with you to avoid having to rush
to answer a call.
• Avoid sitting in rockers,
swivel chairs and chairs with
wheels.
• Be sure railings and banis-
ters are secure.
• Install hand rails or grip
bars in showers and bathtubs
and place non-slip strips or de-
cals on the floor/tub. Also use a
rubber-backed bath mat when
you step out.
• Take extra precautions on
uneven, wet, or icy pavements.
• Reduce attentional de-
mands and focus on the activi-
ty at hand.
• Include balance exercises
in your fitness regimen, such as
one-leg stands and sit-to-stand
exercises, as well as exercises
to build ankle, leg, and hip
strength.
Individuals who are experi-
encing problems with balance,
dizziness or falling should be
examined by a physician. For
more information, visit www.
kessler-rehab.com.
Report details Columbia County tobacco trends
Cigarette smoking is up
slightly across the state, but
has declined in Columbia
County, the Oregon Health Au-
thority reports.
The “2011 Oregon Tobacco
Facts & Laws,” says that 17.1
percent of adults smoked in
Oregon in 2009, up from 15.7
503-901-1705
percent in 2008. Smoking rates
in Columbia County have de-
creased from 20 to 17.1 per-
cent of the adult population.
“There is a lot more work to
do, but it is nice to see some
good news in this report,” said
Sherrie Ford, Tobacco Preven-
tion and Education Coordinator
for the Columbia Health Dis-
trict.
Both sets of statistics are
part of an overall downward
trend. Smoking has declined
steadily since 1996, the first
year the state began gathering
data as part of the Tobacco
Prevention and Education Pro-
gram. The Oregon-wide smok-
ing rate was 23.7 percent in
1996. The number of cigarettes
consumed has dropped much
faster. Since 1996, per capita
cigarette consumption de-
creased 48 percent.
Tobacco is still the number
one cause of preventable death
in Oregon, but tobacco-related
deaths are also going down.
Deaths declined from 93.6 per
100,000 people between 1996
and 2001, to 89.2 per 100,000
between 2002 and 2007, a 4.7
percent drop.
In Columbia County, 7,143
people regularly smoked ciga-
rettes in 2009. The latest report
says that 6,318 people regular-
ly smoke cigarettes in the coun-
ty.
Ford and other public health
officials attribute the improve-
ments in part to the Smoke-free
Workplace Law that took effect
in 2009.
“As smoking becomes less
socially acceptable,” Ford said,
“people are more willing to in-
stitute non-smoking or tobacco-
free policies.” Columbia Com-
munity Mental Health adopted
a tobacco free property, as
have all of the school districts
in Columbia County.
The teens of Columbia
County exhibit a different trend
among tobacco use. In Colum-
bia County 11 percent of eighth
Graders smoke (state rate is 9
percent) and 20 percent of 11th
graders (state rate is 16 per-
cent). This is an increase of
one percent among eighth
graders and a one percent de-
crease among 11th graders
since 2009.
The report also highlights
the cost of smoking. Columbia
County residents spend $14
million on medical care for to-
bacco-related illnesses every
year. Statewide, tobacco users
spend $1.2 billion every year.
Together with the indirect costs
of lost productivity due to pre-
mature death, (reported at $1.1
billion), the report estimates the
total annual economic cost to
Oregon due to tobacco at $2.3
billion.
The total financial burden to
Oregonians of each pack of
cigarettes is $13.27 according
to the report.
The Columbia Health Coali-
tion is seeking opportunities to
improve healthy behaviors in
Columbia County. If you have
tobacco or smoke-free proper-
ty, or would like assistance in
creating a policy that works for
you, contact Sherrie Ford at
sford@chdpublic health.com or
call 503-397-4651, ext. 2021.
The Tobacco Quitline is a
free coaching resource to help
anyone quit, please call 1-800-
QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)
or got to www.quitnow.met/ore-
gon/.
$48 million for health care exchange
Oregon
Senators
Jeff
Merkley and Ron Wyden an-
nounced February 17 that Ore-
gon will receive over $48 mil-
lion to pioneer a new online
health care exchange that will
allow Oregonians to compare,
purchase, and enroll in private
health insurance plans. State-
based exchanges are a result
of the 2010 Patient Protection
and Affordable Care Act and al-
low individuals and small-busi-
ness owners to pool their pur-
chasing power to negotiate
lower rates. The Oregon Health
Authority
estimates
that
516,000 Medicaid clients and
277,000 commercial insurance
consumers will use the Health
Insurance Exchange to shop
for and enroll in health cover-
age.
“Oregon has a reputation for
innovation in health care. This
grant is a vote of confidence in
our state’s leadership in devel-
oping the health information
technology backbone needed
to operate the exchange,”
Merkley said. “When complet-
ed, the exchange will help Ore-
gonians
compare
private
health insurance plans and en-
roll in the plan that best fits
their situation as well as pro-
vide a template for other states
to follow.”
“Once again Oregon is at
the forefront of healthcare inno-
vation and they are being re-
warded for it,” Wyden said.
“These funds will help the state
build the technological infra-
structure they need to operate
top flight healthcare exchanges
that will provide high quality
health care options for Oregon
residents when the healthcare
law goes on line in 2014. A pro-
gram like this is also further
proof that states should be en-
couraged to innovate now
while the health care ex-
changes are being created,
and be ready to hit the ground
running in 2014 with something
that works best for their resi-
dents.”
According to the Department
of Health and Human Services,
other states receiving grants in-
clude Kansas, Maryland, New
York, Oklahoma, Wisconsin
and a multi-state consortia led
by the University of Massachu-
setts Medical School.
Starting in 2014, exchanges
will enable individuals and
small employers to shop for,
select, and enroll in high-quali-
ty, affordable private health
plans that fit their individual
needs at competitive prices. By
providing a place for one-stop
shopping, exchanges will make
purchasing health insurance
easier and more consumer-
friendly.
Information on how much
each state or consortium will
receive and how each will use
the grant funds is available at
www.HealthCare.gov/news/fac
tsheets/exchanges02162011a.
html .