Staying independent with healthy bones

The keys to remaining independent and aging in place are access to information, services and good health. Falls and fractures are among the biggest threats, according to Monica Menecola, Simcoe Muskoka’s regional integration lead for the Ontario Osteoporosis Strategy.

November is both Osteoporosis Month and Fall Prevention Month, and Menecola is organizing a free event at the Stayner Community Centre to educate people about local resources.

Menecola says a fall can change someone’s life, and we can learn to prevent them. She says the belief that falls and fractures are a fact of life for the elderly is ageism. Preventing falls can be as simple as staying focused on the task at hand, being aware of the environment, and exercises to improve balance.

More than one-in-three people over the age of 65 will fall each year, and more than one-in-two over the age of 80. More than one-in-three women and one-in- five men over the age of 50 will have a fracture that could have been prevented.

“Most falls can be prevented,” said Menecola.

She says the human skeleton is designed so that a fall from standing height shouldn’t result in a fracture. If you do suffer a fracture from a fall, it should be investigated.

In 2021-22, the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital treated 170 hip fractures. In half of those cases, the patient had a prior wrist or shoulder fracture that they failed to take seriously. One quarter of people who suffer hip fractures die from complications. One quarter wind up in long-term care. Only 50 per cent will be able to go home, but Menecola says they will never be the same. A hip fracture will significantly change the trajectory of one’s life. The Nov. 1 event in Stayner will feature speakers and interactive displays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Representatives of Osteoporosis Canada will be on hand talking about their new guidelines released Oct. 10. Dieticians from the Southern Georgian Bay Community Health Centre will be available to discuss ways of including adequate calcium and Vitamin D in the diet. Representatives of the Victorian Order of Nurses and the Georgian Bay Family Health Team will showcase their healthy ageing programs. North Simcoe Muskoka Geriatric Services will have information on special exercise programs for people who have been hospitalized or who are in danger of losing independence due to frailty. The County of Simcoe Age Friendly Advisory Committee wants to hear from you regarding how we can age better in our communities. They will be distributing a survey aimed at identifying gaps in available services.