Report No. 063-12

TO:  Chair and Members of the Board of Health
FROM:  Graham L. Pollett, MD, FRCPC, Medical Officer of Health
DATE:     2012 April 19

Stepping Out Safely: Healthy Aging 2012

Recommendation

It is recommended that Report No. 063-12 re Stepping Out Safely: Healthy Aging 2012 be received for information.

Background

In Middlesex-London, falls among seniors remain a significant health issue as they are the leading cause of injury-related death, hospitalization and Emergency Room visits among adults aged 65 and over. For this age group, a broad set of health determinants influences the risk of falling and for fall-related injuries. These risk factors include biological, behavioral, environmental, and socio-economic factors. Many of these risk factors are modifiable with appropriate interventions.

Stepping Out Safely

The Stepping Out Safely initiative was first implemented in 2005 with the goal of raising awareness about the risk factors for falls among the older adult population and to educate them about falls prevention strategies.

The first Stepping Out Safely activity day was organized to promote the falls prevention messages. A thematic approach was used to organize the activities in a fun and interactive way and included positive messages to promote falls prevention and the event proved to be popular among older adults. Semi-annual events were held in the early years but due to a lack of sustainable funding the partnership it was decided to continue with an annual event.  Attendance has nearly doubled with 70 participants in the first event and 135 participants in the ninth event held on October 1, 2011, which was sold out on the first day of registration.

Partnership

A committee was formed in late 2004 to plan the first Stepping Out Safely event. The working group was comprised of representatives from the Council for London Seniors; Kiwanis Seniors Community Centre; the HealthUnit; Third Age Outreach; St. Joseph’s Health Care London; and older adults from the community. Since then, the partnership has expanded to include both non-profit organizations and area businesses. This committee has no stable funding and depends on in-kind contributions and sponsorships. The continual support from community partners working in a collaborative manner has ensured the success of this annual event.

Healthy Aging 2012

Building on the successful collaborative effort, a Stepping Out Safely Steering Committee was formed to plan Stepping Out Safely: Healthy Aging 2012. The Healthy Aging in Canada framework is being used to guide activity planning. The emphasis is on health promotion and disease prevention to ensure older adults in the community maintain optimal health and quality of life as they age.

The goal of Stepping Out Safely: Healthy Aging 2012 is to promote healthy aging in Middlesex-London with the following objectives:

1. To acknowledge the contributions of older adults
2. To celebrate the diversity among older adults
3. To refute ageism
4. To encourage intergenerational activities
5. To provide health promoting information to older adults
6. To facilitate the participation of older adults in the Stepping Out Safely: Healthy Aging 2012 initiative by providing low- or no-cost activities

This year’s plan involves community-wide activities from April to October on various themes in line with the goal of Stepping Out Safely: Healthy Aging 2012:

Over fifty non-profit organizations and area businesses are involved in this initiative. This huge undertaking has generated a sense of synergy among community partners in working towards the common goal of promoting health to older adults in London and Middlesex.

This report was prepared by Ms. Amy Mak, Public Health Nurse, Healthy Communities and Injury Prevention Team and Ms. Mary Lou Albanese, Manager, Healthy Communities and Injury Prevention Team.

Graham L. Pollett, MD, FRCPC

Medical Officer of Health

This report addresses the following requirement(s) of the Ontario Public Health Standards:

Prevention of Injury and Substance Misuse Health Promotion and Policy Development requirement #4. The Board of health shall increase public awareness of the prevention of injury in falls across the lifespan.

And MLHU Strategic Direction: Reducing Health Inequities.