Ventura, Calif. – The Ventura County Elderly Fall Prevention Coalition will be hosting a bilingual Fall Prevention Forum that will focus on life-saving strategies and offer a variety of other services, including balance screenings, health assessments as well as shingles, pneumonia, and flu vaccinations. The event will be held at the Santa Paula Community Center on Saturday, April 13^th, from 8 a.m.- 1 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

With the tagline “No Juegue Con Su Salud: Evite Las Caídas Ahora,” translated to “Don’t Play With Your Health: Prevent Falls Today,” the bilingual forum will provide a variety of methods and informational sessions in both English and Spanish that are designed to arm adults and caregivers with the tools necessary to prevent falls and increase mobility. Nationally recognized research shows that one in four adults over the age of 65, and half of the population over the age of 75, fall each year. Of those individuals, half will die within a year from complications and injuries sustained from the fall.

The forum will feature balance screenings, health assessments, free shingles, pneumonia, and flu vaccinations, as well as glucose, blood pressure, and vision screenings. Individuals will also have the opportunity to take part in exercise demonstrations for Zumba, Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance, and A Matter of Balance. Lunch and refreshments will be provided to those in attendance.

Speakers will include Dr. Edgardo Falcon, MD, Geriatrician, and Dr. Thomas Duncan DO, Trauma Medical Director, Ventura County Medical Center and Santa Paula Hospital.

The Santa Paula Community Center is located at 530 W. Main Street in Santa Paula. To register for the event, or for more information, please contact the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s Fall Prevention Program at (805) 477-7343.