Program Can Reduce Older Adult Falls by 31%

Program Can Reduce Older Adult Falls by 31%

(Salt Lake City, UT) – Every day, an average of eight Utahns age 65 and older are hospitalized for injuries due to a fall. In 2010, there were 3,129 fall-related hospitalizations among older Utahns, costing more than $85 million in treatment charges. Falls were the leading cause of injury-related death among older adults in Utah. The Utah Department of Health (UDOH) wants to remind everyone that injuries from falls are largely preventable.

“Falls are not a normal part of aging,” said Trisha Keller, Program Manager for the UDOH Violence and Injury Prevention Program. “Most falls are preventable if we can teach older adults what hazards to remove in their homes and help them increase their strength and balance.”

Stepping On is a 7-week program now being implemented by local health departments across the state. The program focuses on empowering older adults to engage in health behaviors that reduce the risk of falling, such as removing tripping hazards in their homes and doing simple exercises to build strength and improve balance. And national research shows the program works: falls among study participants were reduced by 31 percent.

Seventy-five-year-old John “Charley” Jones joined a Stepping On class last year after noticing his balance wasn’t as good as it had been. “I tended to shuffle when I walked and thought I better try to preserve or improve on what I have so it didn’t get worse,” Jones said. “I would encourage others to take the class. The instructors made everyone feel comfortable and I never felt like an old, decrepit person there. The classes were not only informative and helpful, they were fun, too,” he added.

“Our goal is to help our citizens remain independent and healthy,” said Karen Jensen, a Stepping On instructor at the Utah County Health Department. “Even minor falls can have a dramatic impact on a person’s well-being and sense of safety.”

Several new Stepping On classes will begin in September and October. The classes are free and will be held at:

• Orem Friendship Center (93 North 400 East, Orem) every Friday beginning September 23, 2011 until November 4, 2011 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. To register for the class, participants must be a member of the center. Call 801-229-7111.

• Springville Senior Center (65 East 200 South, Springville) every Friday beginning September 23, 2011 until November 4, 2011 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. To register for the class, call 801-851-7095.

• North Davis Senior Activity Center (42 South State Street, Clearfield) every Thursday beginning October 13, 2011 until December 1, 2011 (except on Thanksgiving Day) from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. To register for the class, call 801-525-5076.

• Wasatch County Senior Citizens Building (465 East 1200 South, Heber City) every Tuesday beginning October 11, 2011 until November 22, 2011 from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. To register for the class, call 435-657-3312.

The UDOH recommends four basic steps to reduce the risk of falls:

• Begin a regular exercise program. Exercise improves strength and balance,as well as coordination.

• Have your health care provider review your medicines. Some medicines or combinations of medicines can make you sleepy or dizzy and cause you to fall.

• Have your vision checked. Have your eyes checked by an eye doctor at least once a year. Poor vision can increase your chances of falling.

• Make your home safer. Remove tripping hazards like throw rugs and clutter in walkways as well as books and papers from stairs. Install grab bars next to your toilet and shower.

Utah will join 43 other states in recognizing September 23, 2011 as Falls Prevention Awareness Day. For more information about falls or the Stepping On program, visithttp://health.utah.gov/vipp/olderAdults/overview.html.

Media Contact:

Jenny Johnson

Violence & Injury Prevention Program

(o) 801-538-9416 (m) 801-298-1569

ALPINE HOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT IS RECOGNIZED FOR ITS PATRIOTISM

http://www.alpinehomemedical.com/home-medical-equipment/alpine-home-medical-equipment-is-recognized-for-its-patriotism

STAY TUNED FOR POSITIVE RETAIL UPDATES AT ALPINE THAT WILL IMPROVE YOUR SHOPPING EXPERIENCE

ATLANTA - HME providers looking to improve their retail strategies will have a place at Medtrade to see tangible ideas on display.

The new "Home & Retail Design Center" on the exhibit floor will show providers how to showcase different product mixes, how to merchandise products in "like" categories and how to use attractive signage and fixtures. Rob Baumhover, director of retail programs for Waterloo, Iowa-based The VGM Group, says the center's purpose is to make HME providers more "shoppable" to customers.

"It's a cash business, first and foremost," he said. "With the growing number of cuts industry-wide, retail is becoming more and more essential to survive. Hopefully, through this exhibit, providers will see how to get the most out of their retail space and take some ideas on how traffic flow and effective merchandising can lead to a successful, profitable showroom."

Medtrade takes place Oct. 24-27 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta.

The center shares the same exhibit space as the Medtrade Accessible Home and is sponsored and staffed by Nationwide Homes, Accessible Home Improvement of America and VGM. Some of the product categories on display are pain management, respiratory, rehab accessories and wound care.

"When it comes to merchandising, it's important to keep like products and their add-ons together," Baumhover advised. "The most important thing to consider when it comes to merchandising is to remember the customer you're catering to--make sure aisles are extra wide and clear and don't put product too high or too low. Keeping things easily accessible and readily available is paramount."

Ultimately, the center was conceived "just to let providers know what options are available," Baumhover said.

"Times are tough," he said. "We all know this and experience it on a daily basis. I'd like to think that a strong retail business with good sales training and the right staff can be very profitable."

Medtrade launches Competitive Bidding Central

ATLANTA - Medtrade announced Sept. 16 that it will feature a new Competitive Bidding Central at this year's show. It is open to all attendees and exhibitors and offers presentations and one-on-one access to industry experts. Participants will also have access to a library of resources provided by Brown & Fortunato, The MED Group and The VGM Group.

Article written by HME News.

Salt Lake City in line for round 2 of Competitive Bidding:

President of Alpine Home Medical, Jay Broadbent, makes a panel appearance at the HME Summit, currently going on in Charlotte, North Carolina

Summit live: An excellent panel

Monday, September 12, 2011 13:27

Only at HME News do we give you an award, then reward you by sticking you on the hot seat, in this case, a panel discussion here in front of 170 of your peers at the HME Business Summit.

More providers than ever submitted applications for our annual HME Excellence Awards (I don’t envy the judges having to select from all those great companies).

And the winners are: Robert Shellenberger, owner, Qualicare Home Medical Teresa Glass Owens, president/CEO, Glass Seating and Mobility Jay Broadbent, president, Alpine Home Medical Equipment

How are winners thinking outside the box?

Robert: We’re looking at more non-traditional DME ventures, like skilled nursing, children’s homes, things that the community needs for these institutions.

Jay: Our retail operation. A lot of folks try retail and have limited success. Each of our stores, we tried to model them so they are kind of cookie cutter, same look, same products. One thing we’ve found, they like to come in and look, feel and touch. A lot of folks that bought from us retail, they become a customer for life because they had a good retail experience. We feel very fortunate and blessed with response to our business, so we started the B in Motion Foundation. The dollars we raise provides wheelchairs to individuals without insurance or whatever the reason that they aren’t able to get the equipment that they need.

Teresa: One thing we have done, is hang onto our customers long term. You are gonna get the new patients, but you want to hang onto those you already have.

Why are winners involved in clinical groups, community organizations and industry associations?

Robert: Clinical groups keep us in touch with clinical activities. We have to be recognized as clinically competent. As far as community groups, it’s the recognition. We don’t just take from the organization, we give back to the community. Qualicare gets recognized and I think that’s great.

How do winners plan to incorporate the award into their marketing?

Teresa: We’re currently asking marketing consultants to see how we can go to next level. Rehab is different, it really is reputataion. We are real careful how we market ourselves. One thing we try to do is empower employees, the award has been a huge confidence booster for them. We have a really strong team, but it didn’t happen overnight.

Jay: We are very excited and proud. It’ll be on our website, our literature. It’s a competiitve business and anything you can do to establish yourself and set yourself apart is good for your business.

Robert: Look at two clicnal programs, skillded nrugs and opedait that’s gogin to take a lto fo time and reosuces.

Teresa: Our top priority is to continue to grow but we are really going to support, as much as we can, our association. If they want us on the phone to our congressmen, we’ll call. If they want us to fly to Washington, we’ll go. We are really trying to do as much as we can to stay in the game and get carved out further from competitive bidding. There’s a lot of education that complex rehab has got to do. It takes time but for our business to survive we’ve got to show people what we do.

Jay: We’re going to continue with our lean process and continue to refine our processes and look for waste and efficiencies.

Article written by HME News.