 Come to a local TRIAD meeting or visit the Better Business Bureau for more information on how to stay scam-free over the holidays!
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Don't Fall Into Winter:
Guides for Staying Safe This Season!
Falling snow and ice are one of the biggest outdoor fall risks to everyone- but especially for older adults! Research studies have shown that one out of four people age 65+ falls each year. 20% of falls cause a serious injury such as hip fractures or broken bones. Falls, with or without injury, can result in loss of mobility, independence, and quality of life. Caregivers are impacted, too, experiencing a significant increase in their workload, sometimes leading to depression.
The good news is you have the power to reduce your or a loved one’s risk of falling. The steps below can help you to develop a falls prevention action plan.
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Start the conversation: If you are a caregiver, explain you are concerned about their overall safety and want to partner on preventative measures. Suggest accompanying him or her to a wellness checkup that includes a falls-risk assessment. For an at-home assessment, you can complete a brief fall risk assessment checklist.
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Discuss current health conditions: Ask yourself or a loved one if there are any chronic conditions that might cause lethargy, stiffness, or balance issues. These can include arthritis, depression, and diabetes. Encourage your loved one to speak openly with health care providers about managing their concerns. Take advantage of preventive benefits available under Medicare, such as the Annual Wellness visit.
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Talk about medications: Many prescription and over-the-counter medications can cause side effects, such as dizziness, sleepiness, dehydration, or drug interactions, that can lead to a fall. Discuss medication side effects with a doctor or pharmacist, and encourage your loved one to keep a list of medications on hand so doctors and pharmacists can review new prescriptions. Our Medication Record Form can help track medications.
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Eye exams: Make sure you or your care recipient has an annual vision exam to check for age-related eye diseases such as macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts. If they wear glasses, be sure their prescription is current and being used as advised by the eye doctor. Bifocals can be problematic on stairs, so it’s important to be cautious.
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Notice changes in mobility: Is your loved one holding onto walls, furniture, or someone’s arm when walking? Do you experience difficulty getting out of their chair? These can be signs of problems with balance, strength, or gait. Make an appointment with a trained physical therapist to help improve their functional mobility, balance, or gait. A physical therapist might also suggest a cane or walker—and provide guidance on how to use these aids.
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Do a walk-through safety assessment of the home: Most falls happen at home. Our first-ever Falls Prevention Awareness Day video was about this issue! There are many simple and inexpensive ways to make a home safer. For professional assistance, consult an occupational therapist. Examples of simple home safety modifications include:
- LIGHTING: Increase lighting throughout the house, especially at the top and bottom of stairs. Ensure that lighting is readily available when getting up in the middle of the night; install night-lights in the bathroom and in the hallways that are used after dark.
- STAIRS: Make sure there are two secure rails on all stairs. If stairs are made of a smooth material (e.g., wood, tile), apply anti-slip tape to ensure proper footing and grip.
- BATHROOMS: Install grab bars in the tub/shower and near the toilet. Make sure they’re installed where your loved one would actually use them. For even greater safety, consider using a shower chair and hand-held shower.
- FLOORS: Keep floors clutter free. Remove small throw rugs or use double-sided tape to keep the rugs from slipping.
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Find a community-based falls prevention program. Many communities across the country offer falls prevention programs that have been proven to help people reduce their risk and fear of falling. Visit the Thrive Center in Louisville for current program offerings.
For a detailed step-by-step guide and additional fall prevention resources for caregivers, download and share the Falls Prevention Conversation Guide for Caregivers.
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  Many Americans with disabilities think old rules still apply — that they can't save for the future if they are receiving means-tested disability benefits. However, ABLEnow accounts remove these limitations, offering financial peace-of-mind for millions of eligible individuals and their families.
ABLEnow accounts:
- Do not affect eligibility for most benefit programs, such as Medicaid and SSI.
- Are tax-advantaged, so earnings grow tax free.
- Can accept contributions from anyone: the account owner, family and friends.
- Are available to eligible individuals in all 50 states.
Click Here to Enter to win a $1,000 contribution toward an ABLEnow account for yourself or someone you know.
This offer ends on December 15, 2019.
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 The Transit Authority of River City (TARC) is SEEKING GRANT APPLICATIONS to award grant funds through the federal grant program:
Enhanced Mobility of Seniors and Individuals with Disabilities Section 5310
Private nonprofit organizations, state and local governmental authorities, and operators of public transportation services are eligible to apply.
APPLY ONLINE at this website:
https://www.ridetarc.org/doing-business-with-tarc/
Click on “Current Opportunities” and then click on “View Opportunity” for the Section 5310 Grant Application.
To access the grant application, REGISTER AS A “VENDOR” (even though you are not a vendor).
YOU ARE INVITED to learn more about this grant opportunity at a:
PRE-APPLICATION MEETING
Thursday December 5, 2019,
10:00 am (until about 11:30 am)
TARC
Alyce French-Johnson Training and Education Center
(Second floor Training Room)
1000 W. Broadway
Louisville, KY 40203
Application deadline:
3:00 pm Thursday January 9, 2020
CONTACT:
Russ Greenleaf, TARC
rgreenleaf@ridetarc.org
502-213-3361
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Expanding Access to Transportation for Older Adults and People with Disabilities
Federal Transit Administration has announced the Mobility for All Pilot Program. The $3.5 million grant program is available to states and tribes who can partner with community-based organizations as sub-applicants, The program will fund projects that enhance transportation connections to jobs, education, and health services for older adults, people with disabilities, and people with low income.
Applications are due January 6, 2020. For more information, see FTA's notice of funding.
This is one of three initiatives totaling nearly $50 million announced by USDOT at the summit.
Meeting FTA's Matching Funds Requirement
Federal transit law permits funds from other federal government programs, including many ACL - and HHS - funded programs, to be considered "matching funds" for FTA public transit formula grants.
For example, Older Americans Act (OAA) Supportive Services funds can be used to match FTA enhanced mobility funds, allowing a senior center to purchase a vehicle to transport its clients. Similarly, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) funds can be used together with FTA enhanced mobility funds to hire a mobility manager at a Center for Independent Living to coordinate transportation and provide travel training for participants.
To learn more, join ACL and FTC for a webinar on Thursday, November 21, at 3:00 pm ET. Register here for the webinar.
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