Fall Prevention - A Top Priority for Everyone

In Johnson County, falls are the leading cause of injury hospitalization for persons who are 45-plus years.

For former Hawkeye Wrestling coach Dan Gable falls meant a win. On Thanksgiving eve 2009, Gable encountered another kind of fall in which he broke his leg and became part of the statistic above. Read full Press-Citizen article >>

JCLC, along with other county organizations, is making fall prevention and awareness a top priority. The effort includes a year-long awareness campaign which kicked off with the January 13th Press-Citizen Guest Opinion piece linked above. The campaign will include events throughout the year. Two of these events are posted below. More upcoming events are planned and will be posted here.

In addition to the campaign, JCLC in cooperation with the Visiting Nurses Association (VNA), has submitted a grant application requesting funding for a Sure Steps program designed to implement a comprehensive community-based fall prevention program for older adults living in rural and urban eastern Iowa. More on Sure Steps >>

Home Modification Display at Sycamore Mall in March

The JCLC Housing Work Group is planning an informational Home Modifications exhibit showing options to make homes safer and reduce the risk of falls. The exhibit will be on display during the month of March at Sycamore Mall.

De-Cluttering Your Home Short Course - March 22nd

In this short course, presenter Mary Lea Kruse, will cover how to get started de-cluttering and "cleaning out" your home. De-cluttering your home is a great way to prevent falls! Mary Lea will show methods for cleaning out different places and collections, and cover a variety of resources that are available.

This FREE course is co-sponsored by the Iowa City/Johnson County Senior Center and the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute as a part of the JCLC Fall Prevention Awareness Campaign. The course will be held at 1 PM, Monday, March 22, 2010, Room 208 of the Senior Center.

For more information or, assistance in attending the course, call the Senior Center at 319-356-5220, 48 hours in advance of the course. The public is invited.

Events & Announcements

Concerned about someone's driving? Maybe yours? - February 10th

Then, please stop and talk about it at a free workshop, Choices Not Chances, on Thursday, February 11, 2010,7 PM, Coralville Public Library (1401 5th Street). Pre-registration is required. Call 319-430-9757 by Wednesday, February 10, 2010. View flyer>

Assistive Technology for Older Drivers and Passengers Workshop - March 1st

Jane Gay, co-director of Iowa Program for Assistive Technology (IPAT), will present a special program on assistive devices that will help older drivers, older passengers, their family care-givers and senior service agency personnel manage the tasks of getting into/out of vehicles and, finding safe seating and operating procedures. The workshop will be held on Monday, March 1, 2010, 2PM, Coralville Public Library (1401 5th Street). Co-sponsored by the JCLC Transportation Work Group and the Johnson county AARP Chapter. The public is invited. View flyer>

JCLC Receives Award

Johnson County Livable Communities for Successful Aging has been awarded the 2009 Iowa State Association of Counties award for Excellence in Action.

H1N1 Updates

Information on H1N1 and Seasonal Influenza from Johnson County Public Health

JCLC Work Group Meetings

Transportation Work Group to Meet Feb. 9

JCLC Transportation Work Group will meet Tuesday Feb. 9, from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., at the Iowa City Public Library, 123 Linn Street, in room B.

JCLC Transportation Work Group is working to simplify older adults’ access to transportation services, increase transportation options and the quality of transportation services for older adults to enhance the ability of frail seniors to live more independently.

Mobility was ranked the third most important issue for older citizens, ahead of Social Security and Medicare, by the most recent White House Conference on Aging.

Interested persons are encouraged to attend. For additional information, please contact Joan Cook at jcook@elderservicesinc.com or 319-356-5218. Agenda>>

Transition Work Group to Meet Feb. 9

JCLC Transition Work Group will meet to plan community presentations addressing Transitions in Life. The meeting will be held Tuesday Feb. 9, from 10:30-11:30 a.m., at the Johnson County Human Services Building, 855 S. Dubuque Street, in room 203B.

Interested persons are encouraged to attend. For additional information, please contact Maggie Elliott at maggie.elliott@iowacityhospice.org or 688-4212.

Communications Work Group to Meet Feb. 17

JCLC Communications Work Group will meet February 17, 9 a.m., at the Johnson County Health and Human Services Building, 855 S. Dububque Street. For additionaly information, please email Bob Welsh at welshbob@aol.com.

FYI

Top Scams that Target Seniors

posted January 7, 2010

Seniors are one of scam artist's favorite targets. More than 25 million seniors were victims of fraud last year according to the Federal Trade Commission. Seniors become targets because they are easy to reach by phone, are often home during the day, often live alone and are often more willing to talk to strangers. More>

Iowa Safe and Mobile Seniors.com

A website from the Iowa Department of Transportation is now available. It has transportation resources for seniors and those with disabilities. Iowa Safe and Mobile Seniors