by Carol Leish, MA
The 2024 Annual Fall Prevention Forum for Ventura County was held on Friday, September 27, at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks. Organized by the Ventura County Elderly Fall Prevention Coalition, the forum aimed to educate seniors on preventing both initial and subsequent falls.
“People who experience a first fall are more likely to fall again, so our goal was to provide education on how to avoid future falls,” said Julianna Eusanio, MSW, Fall Prevention Coordinator at the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging (VCAAA).
Over 400 people attended the event, which featured two keynote speakers: Dr. Thomas Duncan, Trauma Medical Director at Ventura County Medical Center (VCMC), and Dr. James Hornstein, a family medicine doctor also affiliated with VCMC.
Registered dietitian Aurora Meadows led a healthy recipe demonstration, showing attendees how to prepare a smoky black bean, butternut squash, and kale salad. The event also included an interactive Zumba demonstration, which participants enthusiastically joined, as well as a Tai Chi demonstration led by instructor Fred Case. Physical therapists provided balance assessments, blood pressure screenings were available, and attendees had the opportunity to receive their annual flu vaccinations.
“Staying active is key to reducing the risk of falls,” said Eusanio.
The forum, free and open to all Ventura County residents, attracted many seniors, some accompanied by family members. “It was important to raise awareness about fall prevention in a fun and engaging way, which is why this year’s theme was ‘All Aboard the Fall Prevention Train,’” Eusanio added.
A free lunch, catered by Caribbean Haven, was provided. The event also featured a variety of vendors, including government agencies, home health organizations, and adult day health care providers. Los Robles Hospital and Tri-County GLAD (Greater Los Angeles Agency on Deafness) were present, with ASL interpretation available for those who needed it.
The day concluded with a raffle of donated gift baskets.
This year’s forum was held in Thousand Oaks to serve the eastern part of Ventura County, while last year’s event took place in Oxnard to accommodate residents in the western region. Next year’s forum will return to the western part of the county, continuing the annual effort to help older adults prevent falls.
For more information on free fall prevention classes for those over 60, contact Julianna Eusanio at [email protected] or 805-477-7300. You can also view available classes at www.vcaaa.org.
