Elderly falls attribute to a significant amount of both dispatches and transports to the Emergency Room when compared to other traumatic call types and a large percentage of these falls occur in the home.
Home Safety Assessment
Winchester Fire and Rescue personnel can conduct a FREE home safety survey to identify potential risks and hazards for slips, trips and falls in the home environment as well as potential risks for a fire.
Any person who meets the following criteria is eligible for a home safety assessment:
- City of Winchester resident
- Age 65 or older OR concerned about their home situation
- Lives independently (not in a nursing home or assisted living facility)
- Known diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer's
Home safety surveys include the following:
- Home hazard mitigation to reduce fall risks
- Home hazard mitigation to reduce fire risks
- Medication review and Vial of Life program kit
- Information about FREE safety equipment (canes, lockboxes, wheelchairs, smoke detectors)
Contact us to schedule an assessment:
Winchester Fire & Rescue
(540) 662-2298
Email
Safety Tips
Many falls are preventable. Stay safe with these six steps to prevent a fall.
- Find a good balance and exercise program. Look to build balance, strength, and flexibility. Winchester Fire & Rescue has partnered with local area hospital networks and the Stepping On™ program to provide fall prevention education and resources to local seniors.
- Talk to your health care provider. Ask for an assessment of your risk of falling and share your history of recent falls.
- Regularly review your medications with your doctor or pharmacist. Make sure medication side effects aren’t increasing your risk of falling. Take medications only as prescribed.
- Get your vision and hearing checked annually and update your eyeglasses. Your eyes and ears are key to keeping you on your feet.
- Keep your home safe. Remove tripping hazards, increase lighting, make stairs safe, and install grab bars in key areas. Winchester Fire & Rescue offers FREE home safety assessments to help you identify potential risks for slips, trips and falls.
- Talk to your family members. Enlist their support in taking simple steps to stay safe. Falls are not just a seniors’ issue.
Helpful Resources for Seniors
National Vial of Life Project - The Vial of Life Project is a smart way to have your medical information organized and on-hand for first responders in the event of an emergency. Download and print for FREE the essential forms, decals and instructions to assemble your kit at www.vialoflife.org.
Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging (SAAA) - The Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging is a community source for information, referral and support services focused on the health, safety and well-being of older individuals and their caregivers. SAAA also has a variety of health and wellness programs available to help older adults live independently and promote healthy aging. Reach out to the Area Agency on Aging to sign up for a workshop or to find the answers to your questions on aging and community support services.
FindHelp.org - Formerly AuntBertha.com, FindHelp.org is a search engine for supplemental assistance programs near you. Enter your zip code and get help with food assistance, help paying bills, and other free or reduced cost programs, including new programs for the COVID-19 pandemic.
Winchester Active Living Center - The Winchester Parks and Recreation Department has partnered with the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging and is open to anyone 60 years of age and older. The Active Living Center is located at Winchester Parks & Recreation and offers a wide variety of activities, trips, socialization, current events, and fellowship. Noontime meals are available on days of operation. Nutrition and health programs and screenings are presented on a regular basis. WinTran, public transportation in the City of Winchester, is available for those unable to drive. Paratransit services also available.
Senior Living - A leader in senior safety and research which has helped over 25 million seniors and caretakers since it's inception. Learn more at www.seniorliving.org.
Access Independence, Inc. - Access Independence promotes independent living by providing services and resources that enhance the quality of life for people with disabilities living in Virginia’s Northern Shenandoah Valley. If you are in need of access or mobility aids such as walkers, ramps, or hearing devices, they will be glad to help.
Dental Care for Seniors - An informational web guide for oral health including dentistry, orthodontics, and specialty dental care treatments and procedures. Provides medically accurate content in the dentistry field, including information about gum disease, dentures and cosmetic services, restorative treatments, orthodontics, oral surgery.
Vision Care for Seniors - An informational website for vision health. All content published on Vision Center is researched, written, and edited by licensed optometrists, experienced journalists, and other medical writers in the industry. All pages and topics on the website are fact-based and sourced from recent scientific research, scholarly articles, textbooks, government agencies, and medical journals. We provide medically accurate content for all things vision. Learn about eye conditions and vision correction practices.