Preventing falls critical to senior health
Good morning! SAFE program fights life-threatening falls among seniors...James City County home assessments could grow double digits...plus an update on adding lacrosse competition to local schools.
Marilyn Dunnill is performing a balancing act on a padded beam, a resistance band attached to her ankles, stretching as she switches her balance from one foot to another.
“Now make sure you’re standing nice and tall,” coaches therapist Amber McGill. “Try not to lean a lot going forward...try to keep your posture nice and tall.”
And so Dunnill gradually makes her way down the length of the beam at Sentara’s physical therapy center in Williamsburg.
She is a participant in the SAFE program, which Sentara began offering in 2016 to prevent falls in the elderly population by improving balance and strengthening muscles to keep them safe.
Falls are a significant cause of traumatic injuries among the elderly, Sentara officials say. A study by the National Institutes of Health determined falls that result in hip fractures lead to death within a year for 21.2% of people.
“You get to be this age and the biggest fear is a fall,” said Dunnill, who is 79. “Because huge damage can happen.”
Her balance work over, Dunnill gets on a stationary bike and starts pedaling.
Dunnill has been in the SAFE program for a month, since she had back surgery that left her leg numb.
“I can tell a big difference,” she said.
She said some of her elderly friends don’t want to admit they are having balance issues because they are afraid their adult children will pack them off to a nursing home.
McGill, who has been with the program since it started, said SAFE can help you avoid falling in the first place by improving your strength and balance.
“A lot of times patients will share with their doctor that they’re worried about falling,” said McGill, who specializes in orthopedics and sports medicine. “They’re concerned about falling, they’re starting to notice some changes. Sometimes you start to change your social habits, your personal habits, because you’re afraid of doing certain things. “
Other patients come to the SAFE program because they are in pain or need rehabilitation after a fall, she said.
Therapists begin by performing five different tests to diagnose a patient’s strength and balancing issues, McGill said. They then tailor a specific program of exercises for each patient, focusing of strengthening the lower body, hips, knees and ankles as required. They also help them improve their balance by exercises such as Dunnill was performing when we visited.
“It can definitely look different from patient to patient,” she said. “We’re not just giving everybody the same 10 exercises.”
A big part of the program is teaching patients how to safely get up if they do happen to fall, McGill added.
She said she will have a patient get down on a padded mat and then practice how to get up safely.
McGill said her oldest patient was 101 years old. But some younger people also participate because of health issues or accidents.
Double-digit increases likely in James City County real estate assessments
Taxpayers in James City and York counties can expect double-digit increases in their home assessments when notices are mailed out next year. How much that translates into increased taxes will be decided during next year’s budget deliberations.
York County 5th District Supervisor Thomas G. Shepperd told constituents in his monthly newsletter the new assessments will show increases of 10-13 percent.
James City County Administrator Scott Stevens told us he expects a similar trend in James City County, whose notices typically go out at the end of January or first of February.
Stevens said he expects the county would adjust its tax rate to keep the average home tax from going up double digits next year.
The average James City homeowner’s tax bill increased 21% over the past two years, even though the tax rate was unchanged, because of rising property values.
“The rate’s important, but what (counts is) what people really pay,” Stevens said.
“(Tax increases averaged ) 4% a year over the last 10 year prior to the 21%...I’d like to be in that 3%...it’ll depend on how our sales tax revenues are doing, and other opportunities for revenue,” he said.
Stevens said the county has committed to providing another $5 million to the Williamsburg-James City County schools next year, and has approved increases to police and emergency services funding.
“Cutting back is always a choice.” Stevens added. “People are all about that until you talk about (cutting) their thing. “
York County is looking at increasing staff salaries by $8 million next year as a result of its recent compensation study, as well as undetermined costs to replace its courthouse and administration center.
What’s next for lacrosse?
Lacrosse supporters in the Historic Triangle have gotten the schools’ attention.
For the past year, parents and players have been showing up en masse at meetings of the Williamsburg-James City County and York County school boards to plead their case for being included as a regular competitive sport like football or wrestling.
School officials say they are taking a hard look, but that they face a chicken and egg problem: they need enough schools in the Bay Rivers athletic district to create a competition schedule.
Lacrosse is the fastest growing sport in the nation, and local athletes comprised more than half of the Hampton Roads Lacrosse League’s all-star roster last spring.
But without school recognition, “they are not recognized at the school awards ceremonies…. they aren’t allowed to use any of the school fields,” Caroline Anderson, president of the York High School Lacrosse Club, told us for an earlier story we published. They cannot participate in post season games at the regional level as part of the Virginia High School League.
They also have to pay their own expenses for equipment and travel.
Williamsburg-James City County Superintendent Daniel Keever said it would cost about $225,000 to set up a lacrosse program, plus another $70,000 in annual operating costs.
That doesn’t include transportation, Keever told the school board recently.
The schools would also need to returf Cooley Field to provide an adequate field, the superintendent added.
“I’m not sure there will be lacrosse,” we were told by James Carroll, acting superintendent for York County schools.
His system is “gauging whether there is enough competition to create a (Virginia High School League) district.”
The Bay Rivers district encompasses teams from New Kent County to Newport News and Hampton as well as Gloucester.
“Not everybody has to participate, but you need enough schools to set up a schedule,” Carroll said.
Please, please, pretty please!
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I liked the SAFE program article. What is the cost for the program and is it covered by Medicare?
Falls are seniors #1 fear.