The Ladysmith Health Care Auxilliary is celebrating 25 years of partnership with Philips Lifeline providing a service to the community that helps seniors who are prone to falls.
Older adults suffer falls and fall related injuries at a “staggering” rate, says a news release from the Auxiliary and Philips Lifeline. “One in three Canadians over the age of 65 will experience a fall this year,” they say, “and older adults who fall once are two to three times as likely to fall again within a year.”
Lifeline units with the AutoAlert function, introduced five years ago, further protects seniors at risk for falls by automatically signaling for help if someone is disoriented, immobilized, or unconscious.
“When seniors experience a fall or other emergency, every second counts,” says the Lifeline release. “Delayed medical care can jeopardize their recovery and independence.
“In the last year, almost 12,000 falls in subscribers’ homes in Canada were detected by Lifeline units with the AutoAlert function, 468 in the Ladysmith and Victoria areas.
The Ladysmith Lifeline Program, which started with five units, now serves over 120 subscribers.
Revenue from the program supports Ladysmith Hospital Auxiliary’s Guardian Fund which has sponsored the Lifeline service for more than 50 seniors and those medically at risk in the Ladysmith community over the past 12 years.
“We provide peace of mind for the entire family,” said Janine Hunka of Ladysmith Lifeline. “Independent living is a top priority for aging seniors. Family caregivers need to know their loved ones can access help quickly when they’re not there.”
For more information, call 250-245-5211 or visit www.lifeline.ca