Seniors Resources
Aging Adult Services (AAS)
Fall Prevention Services
650-724-9369
This Stanford Hospital program is devoted to meeting the needs of aging adults and their families, and providing them a continuum of care with support and resources.
The AAS team, with nurses, elder care specialists and a medical director is dedicated to assisting with the needs of senior patients, both in the hospital and at home. A representative from AAS may be called to the Emergency Department to assist you or a family member during your visit.
Fall Prevention for Older Adults
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that an estimated one in three adults ages 65 years and older fall each year.
Recommendations for reducing falls include:
- Exercise regularly
- Review medications with your doctor and/or pharmacist
- Do a home safety check and make modifications to make your home a safe environment
- Get regular vision checks
More than 60% of visits from adults ages 65 years and older to the Trauma Center at Stanford Hospital and Clinics are due to falls. Because of this significant injury prevention need, two programs are offered to help reduce falls for older adults.
Farewell to Falls
Farewell to Falls is a free, home-based program that utilizes a multi-faceted approach to help reduce falls.
The program includes the following:
- An Occupational Therapist provides two home visits to review home safety, assess the older adult’s strength and balance, high risk behaviors and medication management (the latter is done in conjunction with Stanford Hospital Pharmacy).
- An exercise video/DVD or written exercises are provided to each older adult who enrolls in the program.
- Every two to four weeks, a volunteer makes follow-up phone calls to participants to encourage compliance with recommendations.
- One year after the first visit, a third visit is made to re-evaluate the participant.
Farewell to Falls is available free of charge to older adults residing in Santa Clara or San Mateo County. Please call 650-724-9369 to determine eligibility for the program.
Note: In 2007, the Farewell to Falls program was recognized as one of ten best programs nationally by the National Council on Aging and Home Safety Council for Creative Programs and Practices in Home Safety and Modification.
A Matter of Balance
A Matter of Balance is an evidence-based group program. Groups consist of 8 to 12 older adults in community settings. Our program works to help reduce the fear of falling and increase activity level.
Matter of Balance is:
- Is led by trained facilitators
- Consists of eight (8) two-hour sessions
- Utilizes DVDs, facilitated discussions, problem-solving activities, and gentle exercise
A Matter of Balance was developed at Roybol Center at Boston University and is licensed through Maine Health. The program is being offered at various locations in northern Santa Clara County, and is supported by a grant from Valley Medical Center Foundation from The Health Trust Donor Advised Fund.
To find out more about program eligibility and to sign up, please call 650-724-9369.
San Mateo County Fall Prevention Task Force –Stanford Hospital and Clinics takes a leadership role in this coalition, which brings together representatives from hospitals, the health department, home care and home health agencies, senior centers, and others interested in reducing falls by older adults.
The Task Force concentrates on developing educational programs and resources on fall prevention, providing community education on fall prevention, and advocating on behalf of older adults for funding of programs and resources. For more information, please review the website.