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Find information on falls prevention programs, services and resources for older adults and health care providers within Simcoe County and the District of Muskoka

Please review our core services and programs information below. 
Use the SEARCH FOR SERVICES link at the top of this page to find additional resources.

REGISTRATION for our 10th annual END FALLS THIS FALL is now OPEN
Conference Poster

Simcoe Muskoka Cyber Seniors Program is new to our region and the goal is to teach seniors how to use technology, to increase connectedness with family, friends and their community.  To learn more visit our 
Cyber Seniors Facebook Page

Step Ahead to Fall Prevention On-Line Module – FREE

VON Canada SMART
(Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together) ®

SMART (Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together)® Exercise Program is a gentle fitness program designed for people aged 55+. SMART helps you stay active and maintain your independence.  The SMART program is fully funded by the NSM LHIN and there is no participant charge.  Please see below of contact information for the programs in your area. 

Barrie and area Class Locations
Collingwood/Wasaga Beach area Class Locations
Midland/Penetanguishene area Class Locations
Muskoka Class Locations
Orillia Class Locations

The Healthy Aging Series is presented by speakers from the VON (Victorian Order of Nurses) SMART (Seniors Maintaining Active Roles Together)®Program, IRFP (Integrated Regional Falls Program), and Osteoporosis Canada. The series is sponsored by the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network and therefore is FREE for participants. Speakers include a kinesiologist, physiotherapist, occupational therapist, pharmacist and nurse. The 2-hour sessions run once per week for 12 weeks. The material is usually covered in one hour with an opportunity for attendees to ask questions, and the speaker is available for an additional hour. Descriptions of the topics covered in the series are listed below. (Modules are not necessarily presented in this order aside from Unit 1 which is usually first and Unit 12 which is usually last. Details on actual speaker/topic can be provided 7-10 days before session.)

Unit 1 – Staying on Your Feet

The goal of this class is to be more aware of the cause and impact of falls, and to increase awareness of the benefits of physical activity.

Unit 2 – Taking Charge of Your Health
The goal of this class is to increase awareness of the importance of taking charge of your health in order to decrease your risk of a fall. Includes an overview of a variety of chronic diseases and conditions frequently experienced by seniors (ie. vision loss, hearing loss, diabetes, stroke, etc.), and some tips on how to manage them.

Unit 3 – Medications
The goal of this class is to increase awareness that some medications and their side effects can cause falls, to learn that discussing this with a health professional may prevent falls, and to increase awareness that combinations of certain (many) medications can cause dizziness and weakness and can result in falling.

Unit 4 –Exercise, Posture, and Staying in Healthy Condition
The goal of this class is to learn about the importance of strength, balance and posture training for fall prevention as well as the danger of deconditioning.

Unit 5 – Nutrition and Continence
The goal of this class is to increase awareness of the benefits of eating well to improve sense of well-being and having increased energy, and to increase awareness of strategies to manage continence by planning ahead, paying attention and not rushing.

Unit 6 – Healthy Feet
The goal of this class is to learn about the importance of safe footwear and foot care, and the role of both in your ability to be active and reduce your fall risk.

Unit 7 – Ways to Stay Safe and Independent
The goal of this class is to inform you about some of the tools and assistive devices available to help manage daily tasks, as well as how and where to get them. Walker safety is also discussed.

Unit 8 – Bone Health
The goal of this class is to inform the group about healthy bones and the need to have a fracture risk assessment.The role of calcium, vitamin D, exercise, osteoporosis medications and fall prevention are discussed in relation to preventing fractures.

Unit 9 – Home and Community Considerations for Fall Prevention
The goal of this class is to increase awareness of potential safety issues in your home and how to address those risks, and to promote discussion on accessibility and fall risks in the community and how to reduce fall risks.

Unit 10 – Sleep
The goal of this class is to learn the importance of sleep and its impact on our health and well-being, and to improve knowledge of techniques to improve sleep.

Unit 11 – Maintaining a Healthy Brain
The goal of this class is to learn about brain health and to improve knowledge of how brain health impacts our overall well being.

Unit 12 – Pay Attention to Keep Safe
The goal of this class is to discuss the importance of planning ahead and avoid taking risks to promote safety. Key information covered in previous units will also be reviewed.

Independent Living Services
http://www.ilssimcoe.ca/t/home.aspx

Mobile Seating and Mobility
The Clinic provides walker, manual wheelchair and seating assessments and prescriptions to seniors living in the North Simcoe Muskoka Local Health Integration Network catchment area.

Note that clients/caregivers must call the pt Health Clinic booking to schedule an appointment, not the LTC facility where the clinic is being held.

*for Walkers, Manual Wheelchairs and Seating Only – No Power Mobility*

LocationDates
Barrie

Woods Park Care Centre
110 Lillian Crescent
Barrie, ON L4N 0V6
n/a
 
Friday
August 25th, 2017

What you need to do:
Have a valid OHIP card
Arrange transportation to the clinic nearest you

Interventions may include:
Screening for risk of falls, medication reviews, walking assessments, home safety evaluations, linking to community resources 


Criteria for referral:
Ages 65 year(s) and up or 55 with complex health issues 
One of the following:
1) Fall within the last 12 months
2) Near fall within the last 3 months 
3) A fear of falling.

Referrals can be made by family physician, nurse practitioner, other health care professionals, patient or family.

Non Social Assistance Program
The County of Simcoe Social Services Department has allocated funding from the Social Assistance Restructuring Fund to support low income and non social assistance recipients with health related expenses for the following items;  eyeglasses, dentures and emergency dental.  This funding will assist low income earners, individuals in receipt of Employment Insurance, low income seniors and those in receipt of Canada Pension Plan such as disability benefits.  Those individuals who have benefits through another plan or agency do not quality for this program.

Annual Fall Prevention Conference Content
2016 – 9th Annual End Falls This Fall Conference Presentations:
(previous years are posted at the bottom of this page)

Exploring Substance Use Disorders and Addiction in Seniors
The Journey to ACEing Seniors Care at Orillia Soldiers’ Mememorial Hospital
Maximizing Function in Parkinson’s Disease
Moving Forward Together: Loop and Fall Prevention Month
Urinary Incontinence – Physiotherapy Management for Falls Prevention
Let’s Make a SMART Referral: A Comparison of SMART and Enhanced SMART
F.A.L.L.S. Rapid Fire Presentations
Mental Health & the Risk of Falling

2015 – 8th Annual End Falls This Fall Conference Presentations:

Dr. Gordon – Caregivers & Dementia
Christy Skelly –  Independent Living Services and the Assistive Devices Exchange 
Toronto Rehab Bathroom Safety
Georgian College Oral Health & Overall Health
VON SMART Program – Updates and Stretches
Behavioural Supports Ontario (BSO) – Tips & Tricks for Dementia
Dr. Karim Dharssi – Herbal Suppliments & Falls

2014 – 7th Annual Conference Speaker Presentations:
What’s Up with Falls? A Practical Approach for Health Care Providers
Cognitive Impairment: Is there an association with falls?
North Simcoe Muskoka LHIN Update
Falls & Medications: A Case-Based Approach
TO FALL OR NOT TO FALL…… A lived experience
The Influence of Pain on Balance; What can we do about it?

2013  – 6th Annual End Falls This Fall Conference Presentations:
Dr. Puxty – Frailty and Aging – Managing from a Community Perspective
Lynda Culley – Dementia and Falls – Practical Considerations
Dementia and Falls Reference List
References and useful websites related to discussion points
Ryan Tripp – Parkinson’s
Leslie Braden – Pharmacy Update
Catherine Chater – Hoarding
Stuart McKinnon – Fall Prevention and EMS
Alison Novak – Preventing Falls Through Improved Stair and Handrail Design

2012 – 5th Annual Fall Prevention Conference Presentations:
Dr. Chris Schell – Vision
JoAnne Pelletier-Bressette and Nancy Hooper – General Psychiatry
Dr. Heather Keller – Falls, Nutrition and Dehydration
Ingrid Beam – Foot Care
Christine McIntosh – Client Self Management
Dr. Klaus Schwanbeck – Nordic Pole Walking

Additional Resources
Finding Balance Ontario
http://www.findingbalanceontario.ca/

Seniors Health Knowledge Network (SHKN)
http://seniorshealthknowledgenetwork.ca/home

Ontario Falls Prevention Community of Practice
http://www.shrtn.on.ca/community/falls-prevention-community-practice