Teaming up
to help vets
BROOKLYN — The Northeast District Department of Health (NDDH) is teaming with a number of community partners to host a Fall Prevention Exposition at the Veterans Stand Down from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. June 9 at Quinebaug Valley Community College (QVCC), 742 Upper Maple Street in Danielson.
“Thanks to funding provided by the Connecticut Collaboration for Fall Prevention (CCFP), we are excited to offer a number of free screenings to area veterans designed to identify and reduce their risk of falling,” said Linda Colangelo, NDDH Education and Communications coordinator. “We are equally grateful to QVCC and the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse for providing space, and the number of community partners who quite literally stepped up to assist in our fall prevention efforts by offering these screenings.”
NDDH and Day Kimball Healthcare at Home (DKHH) both received funding from the CCFP and have been collaborating on a number of community fall prevention clinics.
For the Fall Prevention Expo at the Stand Down, NDDH will partner with DKHH and Generations Family Health Center to screen for and provide Postural Hypotension Blood Pressure Screenings. Postural Hypotension is a condition that occurs if the blood pressure drops too low when a person stands up from a lying or sitting position.  Veterans will also receive Tinetti Balance Assessments to identify issues that may come when rising from a chair, standing, turning, and walking with or without assistive devices.
A Day Kimball Healthcare pharmacist will also be on hand to offer free medication reviews. People on four or more medications are at an increased risk of falling. Expo organizers encourage attendees to bring a complete, up-to-date list of medications with them for a free review. Amplisound Hearing Care Centers will provide free hearing and wax screenings and the Killingly Quiet Corner Regional Lions and Danielson Lions will provide free vision screenings. There is no registration required and all screenings will be offered on a first come, first served basis. “We are especially encouraging veterans aged 65 and older to get screened,” said Colangelo.
“We are excited to welcome the Fall Prevention Expo as part of the Veterans Stand Down,” said Andrew V. Morrison, QVCC Interim Director of Community Outreach & Veterans’ Services. “I encourage all veterans planning to attend to take advantage of the many free screenings, services, and opportunities that will be available to them at this important event.”
“The statistics are telling. One in four Americans aged 65+ falls each year. Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall; and every 19 minutes, an older adult dies from a fall. So this year, we’re saying ‘Fall in for the Fall Prevention Expo…we’re standing with you so you can stand strong!’”