Ventura, Calif. – The Ventura County Elderly Fall Prevention Coalition will be hosting a Fall Prevention Forum that will focus on life-saving strategies and offer a variety of other services, including health assessments and immunizations. The event will be held at the South Oxnard Senior Center on September 20 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. Registration begins at 9 a.m. This event is free and open to the public.

With a tagline to Be Your Own Hero: Learn to Prevent Falls, this annual event will provide a variety of methods and informational sessions that are designed to arm older 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 health assessments, free 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, Stepping On, and A Matter of Balance. Lunch and refreshments will be provided to those in attendance. Spanish translation will also be provided by request.

Dr. Paulo Carvalho will be a featured speaker for the event. Dr. Carvalho serves as Medical Director at the Conejo Family Medical Group, and is part of the Las Posas Family Medical Group and the West Ventura Medical Clinic. Joining Dr. Carvalho will be Dr. Thomas Duncan, Trauma Medical Director for the Ventura County Medical Center.

The South Oxnard Senior Center is located at 200 E. Bard Road in Oxnard. To register for the event, or for more information, please contact the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s Fall Prevention Program at (805) 477-7300.

Media inquiries may be directed to Jannette Jauregui, VCAAA Public Information Officer, at (805) 477-7306.

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