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Physical Therapist
stresses funding for Falls Prevention at
National Safety Council briefing
ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 7
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American
Physical Therapy Association (APTA) has
joined forces with a national coalition of
health and consumer groups to advocate for
funding for falls prevention initiatives,
including the recently enacted Safety of
Seniors Act.
In remarks during today's
"Falls Prevention Briefing" in Washington,
DC, APTA member and National Falls Free
Coalition representative Bonita Lynn
Beattie, PT, MPT, MHA, said that "falls and
falls-related injuries are not normal
consequences of growing old; there are
evidence-based interventions that can help
reduce older adults' risk of falling and can
affect the rate of falls and falls-related
injuries and death."
Beattie, who also
represents the National Conference on Aging
(NCOA), urged Congress "to fund efforts to
increase the falls risk assessment and
intervention skills of health care providers
and promote collaboration with the aging
services network."
To read the complete copy
of Beattie's remarks, visit
www.apta.org/media.
"We applaud Ms Beattie and
urge Congress to fund this critical health
issue," commented APTA President R Scott
Ward, PT, PhD.
"Falls are a leading cause
of injury and death among people 65 and
older. About one in three seniors above age
65, and nearly one in two seniors over age
80, will fall at least once this year, many
times with disastrous consequences.
"Physical therapists are
taking an active role in educating consumers
about how to safely prevent falls as well as
treat those who have fallen and suffered
injuries as a result.
"This education will ultimately improve the
health and quality of life of our nation's
seniors."
The Safety of Seniors Act,
signed into law two weeks ago, authorizes
the secretary of Health and Human Services
to oversee and support a national education
campaign focusing on reducing falls among
older adults and preventing repeat falls,
and awards grants, contracts, or cooperative
agreements to design and carry out local
education campaigns.
The
American Physical Therapy Association
(www.apta.org
), a member of the Falls Free
Coalition, is a national organization
representing physical therapists, physical
therapist assistants, and students
nationwide. Its goal is to foster
advancements in physical therapist
education, practice, and research.
Consumers can visit
www.findapt.us to find a physical therapist
in their area, as well as
www.apta.org/consumer for physical
therapy news and information.
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