Senior center attempts to prevent falls

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) - The Northampton Senior Center held a class today all about fall prevention.

John Yount, a physical therapist from Cooley Dickinson Hospital, ran the class and explained to seniors how they can avoid falls.

First, he said seniors need to evaluate their balance and muscle strength.

If it's difficult to get up from a chair, you could be prone to falls.

This is something that can be improved through exercise.

Seniors should also check their medications to see if they have side effects like dizziness or light headedness.

The fear of falling can also contribute to more falls.

“It's a vicious cycle. If you're fearful of falling you're less likely to move and more likely to limit your activity and be at further risk of falls,” said Yount.

That is incredibly important information because John Yount told us that 50 percent of the seniors he works with who fall and break their hip don't survive more than a year.