Minutes 10-03-2013 - Laserfiche WebLink

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B. Radio Communications C. Unmet Needs D. Unified Development Ordinance Change E. Other Chair Jacobs said he heard something about the updated MAP (Master Aging Plan) and a new program for seniors. He would like an update on this. Kim Woodward, Paramedic Supervisor, said she went to the MAP public meetings and discussed a new initiative that Emergency Services (ES) has initiated, along with their partners at UNC and the Department on Aging. She said this initiative is to provide a fall prevention program for those persons over 60. She said ES receives about 11,000 calls for Emergency victims and 10% are falls. She said another 10% of those are falling more than once. She said there needs to be an initiative to prevent those first falls. She said senior paramedics and assistant supervisors have been trained to provide a home visit, and each of them has been trained in a fall preventative protocol. She said the protocol instructs paramedics to ask three basic questions. - Have you fallen in the past? Do you feel unsteady when you are walking? Are you fearful that you may fall? - She said if patients answer yes, they will be put into a database and contacted by a senior paramedic. She said 29 patients have currently been identified and ES and their partners are in the process of following up with phone calls and home visits to go through some fall prevention protocols. She said patients that opt in and sign a release form will be forwarded to the Department on Aging for follow up. She said the Department on Aging will then meet with these patients, and this will provide feedback to the paramedics. Commissioner Gordon asked about the origin of the base population. Kim Woodward said the patient criteria were anyone over 60 that EMS identifies as having fallen or having a fall risk. She said the paramedic who identifies this then asks the three questions and documents the responses into the database. She said the database generates a report that goes to the supervisors, who can enter the patients into WebEOC. Commissioner Gordon said she feels the protocol could include more questions regarding behaviors and environment. Kim Woodward said these three questions are asked during an emergency care situation, so things cannot be too complex. She said guidance is being provided from the Centers for Disease Control. She said more follow up questions are asked later in the process. Commissioner Gordon asked if the system is noting the reasons for the fall. Kim Woodward said there is a subset of the population who fall no matter what, but the subset that fall out of fear can be impacted with preventative measures. Commissioner Rich asked if the Department on Aging has classes that teach people how to fall correctly. Kim Woodward said she does not know, but she will find out. Chair Jacobs said he was thrilled to hear about this. He said this is the third Master Aging Plan, and there is an emphasis on aging in place. He said this is a key component to that concept. . . Kim said the name of the initiative is "Stay Up and Stay Active", and the goal is to keep people in their homes and out of hospitals and nursing homes. Commissioner Rich asked about the VIPER presentation coverage maps and what creates the "target" looking area in the Chatham County area.