Fall 2018

17 Fall 2018 FEATURE ARTICLE Preventing Falls with Pets Pets can be loyal friends and provide com- panionship for older adults. Nonetheless, pets, their toys, and their food/water bowls can also create fall hazards. Each year, approximately 86,000 fall injuries involve dogs and/or cats. Indoor Fall Prevention: • Keep pet items like toys and food/ water bowls out of paths and walk- ways to avoid tripping over them. Wipe up spills immediately. • For cats and smaller dogs that may run under your feet, suggest that your client place a bell on the pet collar to let them knowwhen their pet is nearby. • Larger dogs may jump to greet their owner or other guests. If necessary, recommend that your client consider obedience training to control behav- iors that may increase falls, such as pushing or pulling. Outdoor Fall Prevention: • Try to recognize the pet’s behavior, and encourage your client to do the same. For instance, some dogs jump when excited or try to run towards other dogs in the area. Being cognizant of these traits may help you or your client anticipate potential fall hazards. • Urge your client to walk or jog with their pet in familiar, well-lit areas with level ground. Depending on their dog’s behavior, it may be best to walk in areas away from other dogs. • Encourage them to use two hands on the leash when walking their dog. They can further increase stability by placing one hand on the handle or leash loop and the other hand lower down on the leash. To learn more about Fall Prevention Week and how you can get involved to raise awareness, please visit www.stopfalls.org . Source: Fall Prevention Center of Excellence About the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence In January 2005, the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence was established to “provide leadership, create new knowledge, improve practice and develop sustainable fall prevention programs.” The Fall Prevention Center of Excellence includes the following partners: University of Southern California’s Andrus Gerontology Center (Andrus); The Center for Successful Aging (CSA) at California State University, Fullerton; The VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC); University of California Los Angeles, School of Medicine; The California Department of Public Health, Safe and Active Communities Branch (SACB); USC School of Pharmacy. Their vision is to create a Center of excellence to ensure the independence, safety, and well-being of older persons through fall prevention. Their mission is to provide leadership, create new knowledge, and develop sustainable programs for seniors and their families, professionals, program administrators, and policymakers. The Center seeks to better understand and identify causes of falls and develop effective interventions at individual, program and systems levels.