What is a strength and balance assessment?
A set of assessments provides a comprehensive overview of an individual’s fall risk, strength, and balance to detect changes before experiencing a fall, increased need for assistance from a caregiver or loved one, or a decline in valued routines or activities.
What is the purpose of these screens?
Wellness screens help older adults be able to age in place while maintaining participation in valued roles and routines. They provide information helpful in establishing a plan to prevent the need to move to institutionalized care (e.g. nursing home, personal care home, assisted living) or give up meaningful responsibilities.
Taking steps to monitor and achieve the skills necessary to support aging in place, is essential. More often, older adults are only aware of a decline after a fall, injury, or illness.
Falls are the second leading cause of death worldwide, second only to motor vehicle accidents. Sadly, the highest number of fatal falls occur in adults over 60. Even when a fall does not result in fatality, falls are responsible for the largest portion of years lived with disability over transport injury, drowning, burns, and poisoning. Sadly, therapy services are typically initiated only after an older adult sustains a fall that results in injury. Strength and balance assessment provides a way to understand changes in function before they lead to debility.
The Healing Journey Foundation is now offering a Health Screening, provided by Katie Herr, OT, Functional Freedom. She will perform multiple quick tests to determine levels of strength, balance, and endurance. Tests will be performed at Lancaster Cancer Center, with results provided immediately to determine risk of falls and/or debility. Katie will answer any questions and provide recommendations for next steps to help improve performance.
The assessment screening is FREE and will be offered quarterly starting
November 7 at 10 a.m.
Registration is requested. Speak with the front desk to register or email lgerhart@lancastercancercenter.com.