Knox County Senior Falls Prevention program begins January 14

KNOXVILLE -- Comics like Dick Van Dyke and Chevy Chase built careers by capitalizing on pratfalls, but in real life, falls are no laughing matter. In fact, falls are the second leading cause of accidental death in the United States. That's why Knox County Health Department (KCHD) and the Knox County Senior Safety Task Force is partnering with the Corryton Senior Center to provide SAIL classes for seniors.

SAIL, which stands for Stay Active and Independent for Life, is a proven program effective in making seniors stronger and safer from falls and the resulting injuries. Knox County has the first SAIL program in Tennessee.

The Corryton Senior Center will be having a kick-off for SAIL classes on Thursday, January 10 from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. The kick-off will offer participants an opportunity to learn more about SAIL and visit health information booths. This event is free and open to the public.

The SAIL classes will start Monday, January 14 and will be held two days a week: Monday and Friday from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m. at the Corryton Senior Center, located at 9331 Davis Drive. The cost is $2 per class and anyone interested is asked to call to register at (865) 688-5882. Participants will undergo a fitness check to gather baseline data on which to gauge progress. Classes are being taught by SAIL certified fitness instructor Johnnie Long.

Falls represent the leading cause of injury for adults 65 and older in Knox County. For the years 2006 to 2010, there were 8,817 inpatient and outpatient hospital discharges among Knox County adults 65 years or older due to falls.

Knox County Health Department is committed to promoting public health policies and practices to safeguard and improve quality of life for all residents. KCHD offers an array of resources, including medical and dental services, family planning, disease surveillance and control, emergency preparedness, air quality management, environmental services, food preparation oversight in public places, smoking cessation, family violence prevention, worksite wellness, nutritional programs and much more. For more information about Knox County Health Department, visit knoxcounty.org/health.

Published January 2, 2013