It Takes a Village: Engaging a County Fall Prevention Coalition During the COVID-19 Pandemic

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Falls are a public health crisis that impacts older adults, their families, and the community at large.  A community based public health strategy can decrease the burden on health systems, ensure equitable access to prevention resources, and improve outcomes for older adults.  This session will describe a county-wide initiative to engage health care, government, public health, and emergency medical services in fall prevention in a diverse community in Wisconsin.  It will also describe the journey to establish a county fall prevention coalition and the challenges encountered in maintaining and growing the coalition’s impact during the COVID-19 pandemic.  The session will describe strategies utilized to respond in real-time to the changing community needs regarding fall prevention, strategies to successfully engage members through virtual platforms, and creating an outreach strategy that navigated restrictions in directly interacting with older adults and the community at large.

Ann Gallo

Senior Service Program Coordinator

Advocate Aurora Health

Ann Gallo is AAH Senior Services Program Coordinator. Since 2016, Ann has worked with Senior Services on the implementation of geriatric models of care to improve care for older adults across the Advocate Aurora Healthcare system. Ann leads the development and implementation of system and national training programs to prepare the health care workforce to use principles of geriatrics. Ann co-leads the Age Friendly Health System initiative throughout the Advocate Aurora Health System. Ann co-leads the Milwaukee County Falls Prevention Coalition and is a member of the State Falls Prevention Steering Team through the Wisconsin Institute for Health Aging. Ann is also a member of the Southeast Regional Trauma Advisory Council and co-chairs Injury Prevention.

Suzanne Ryer

Senior Project Coordinator; Senior Services

Advocate Aurora Health

Suzie is a physical therapist who is board certified in Geriatrics with over fifteen years of clinical experience in a variety of clinical settings. Her focus is on interdisciplinary geriatric care with emphasis on fall prevention and expanding and improving quality of Geriatric ED throughout the health system. Suzie has created interdisciplinary fall prevention and mobility programs for the health system to improve clinical outcomes and combat hospital-associated disability and readmission. Suzie is the co-chair of the Milwaukee County Falls Prevention Coalition, the Southeast Regional Trauma Advisory Council Injury Prevention subgroup, and has created partnerships with a variety of community-based organizations at both the state and local level. Suzie has published multiple articles on topics related to community fall prevention and care in the geriatric emergency department as well as presenting at state and local conferences. Suzie is active in national organizations including APTA

Simona Eldridge (Moderator)

Staff

National Council on Aging

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It Takes a Village: Engaging a County Fall Prevention Coalition During the COVID-19 Pandemic
06/07/2022 at 11:00 AM (EDT)  |  Recorded On: 06/10/2022
06/07/2022 at 11:00 AM (EDT)  |  Recorded On: 06/10/2022