Falls aren’t just scary; they’re also frighteningly common for seniors. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) says falls are the leading cause of fatal injuries for people 65 years and older, and that falls happen to more than one in four seniors each year.
Because of the physical, social, emotional and financial tolls that falling takes on seniors and their families, National Seating & Mobility (NSM) has announced a new program called SAFE: Solutions for Accessible & Functional Environments. The program seeks to “support home health organizations and health insurance payors in the proactive prevention of falls by older adults.”
The new SAFE program incorporates three focus areas of NSM’s business: mobility; home and vehicle accessibility; and maintenance and repair services.
In a Sept. 21 news announcement, NSM said the SAFE program “includes an integrated clinical care team to provide a turnkey solution for clients, from accessing risks in and around the home to installing needed equipment to create a more accessible and functional environment.”
NSM CEO Bill Mixon, said of the new program offering, “NSM has a proven track record of making independence and safety in and around the home a priority for our clients. With more than 900 experienced professionals in client homes daily and a comprehensive suite of mobility and accessibility solutions, our team has the knowledge and expertise to help increase safety to decrease falls risks.
“As the Baby Boomer demographic ages, the number of injuries and fatalities as well as associated costs due to falls is expected to rise even further,” Mixon added. “We hope as a partner to home health and payor organizations, we can offer solutions to address this serious health risk.”
