PORTLAND, OR--(Marketwired - September 12, 2014) - Falling is one of the leading causes of death in elderly individuals. What if you could safeguard the senior you love from falling? A group of Oregon companies has developed a simple program to do just that.
The group will introduce the program on September 23 to coincide with the annual National Falls Prevention Awareness Day at Elite Care Extended Family Residences (Elite Care), a chain of residential care facilities in Oregon and Washington.
The program is based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths & Injuries) tool kit. Sponsors of the program are Elite Care, headquartered in Tigard, Ore., Purity Laboratories (Purity) and Kirkman Group, Inc. (Kirkman), both located in Lake Oswego, Ore.
"Falling, especially for seniors, can have devastating health consequences from fatality to various degrees of injuries that almost always lead to a downward spiral of anxiety and health," Kulani Mahikoa, president of Purity said. "We offer a simple prevention program, patterned after recommendations by the Centers for Disease Control, of proper nutrition, exercise and environmental precautions that helps safeguard an individual from falls and resulting injuries."
Residents enrolled in the program will take the CDC recommended risk stratification tests. In addition, participants will be offered a non-invasive vitamin D bloodspot test and an on-site bone scan test. These tests will assess their susceptibility to falls.
In consultation with their doctor, residents can opt for a nutritional program that includes a diet guide as well as nutritional supplements from Kirkman's 60 to 90 Senior Essentials supplement line. Tai chi exercise, recommended by the CDC, as well as environmental assessments and safeguards will also be offered to participants.
"This program is designed to give seniors the ability to assess their physical condition for susceptibility to falls and to increase their ability to avoid or mitigate injury from falls," Mahikoa said.
Purity will also launch its Stop-the-Fall website, stop-the-fall.com, on September 23. The website will highlight two programs, both a residential care program as well as an in-home program, designed to prevent falls.
This year marks the seventh annual Falls Prevention Awareness Day, sponsored by the National Council on Aging, which "seeks to raise awareness about how to prevent fall-related injuries among older adults." Last year 47 states participated in programs to prevent falls, according to the council.
About the Sponsors
Purity Laboratories
Purity is an independent lab in Lake Oswego, Ore., that offers state-of-the-art laboratory testing. Purity has more than 45 years of experience and is one of the few laboratories in the country that offers both environmental and clinical testing. For more information visit Purity's website at www.puritylabsinc.com.
Kirkman Group, Inc.
Kirkman®, located in Lake Oswego, Ore., is the leading manufacturer of nutritional supplements for individuals with special sensitivities and dietary requirements. Founded in 1949, Kirkman® is also the oldest nutritional supplement company serving the special needs community. To learn more about Kirkman®, visit the company website at www.kirkmangroup.com.
Elite Care Management Group, LLC
Since 2000, Elite Care has been transforming health and memory care services for the elderly in the Pacific Northwest. The Elite Care Extended Family Residences™ located in Portland and Tigard, Oregon as well as Vancouver, Washington are a welcome alternative to the downward spiral of traditional assisted living. Residences feature a culture that advocates life engagement, architecture that emphasizes familial gatherings, and technology that promotes safety with autonomy. This culture, architecture, and technology provide a high quality, meaningful life, without regard to age, diagnosis, or ability.
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Contact Information:
Contact:
Kulani Mahikoa
President
Purity Laboratories
Telephone: 503-694-1600
