FALLING ISN'T THE TITLE OF A SHOW TUNE continued

This coming Saturday, September 22, 2012, is officially National Falls Prevention Awareness Day.  Following are rules 6 to 10 which need debunking.  To read 1 to 5, please visit your friendly Turner on the West Coast, laturnertalk@blogspot.com.
 

6.     Taking medication doesn't increase my risk of falling.  Well, even though your doctor ordered the medication, it may increase your risk of falling.  Medications affect people in many different ways and can sometimes make you dizzy or sleepy. Be careful when starting a new medication. If you're not able to read the fine print that comes on those flimsy warning sheets, be sure to ask the pharmacist about potential side effects or interactions of your medications.   Then, act on #7!

7.      I don’t need to get my vision checked every year.  Truth is that vision is another key risk factor for falls. Aging is associated with some forms of vision loss that increase risk of falling and injury. People with vision problems are more than twice as likely to fall as those without visual impairment. Have your eyes checked at least once a year and update your eyeglasses. For those with low vision there are programs and assistive devices that can help. Ask your optometrist for a referral.  You can hide wrinkles behind glasses, did you know that?

8.      Using a walker or a cane will make me more dependent.  Walking aids are very important in helping many older adults maintain or improve their mobility. However, make sure you use these devices safely. Have a physical therapist fit the walker or cane to you and instruct you in its safe use.

9.      I don’t need to talk to family members or my health care provider if I’m concerned about my risk of falling.  I don’t want to alarm them.  They may want me to go to some home or another.  Now don’t go all grouchy on me here.  Fall prevention is a team effort. Bring it up with your doctor, family, and anyone else who is in a position to help. They want to help you maintain your mobility and reduce your risk of falling.

10. This is something you should read aloud to your kids, grandkids or a younger friend:  "Don’t be afraid of hurting my feelings if you want to talk about my possible risk of falling.  I’ll probably go all grouchy again, but we love each other and even if I don’t show it, I’ll be glad you care enough to talk to me.  After we have a conversation, we could go to the theatre and listen to a lounge singer, OK?"

Ah Youth..."it's wasted on the young." or so intoned the lounge singer.

74th National Turners Convention

Akron, Ohio - Site of the 74th Bi-Annual National American Turners Convention. 

We came from the four corners of the U.S.A., we Turners.  We came to renew, refresh and commit to a rejuvenated future.  Old acquaintences were reconnected.  New friends were established.  Those of us from the right and left coasts marveled at the heartland and came away with the realization that we just finished looking at America and what a refreshing look that was. 

We gave tribute to past accomplishments, respected in silence our departed members and saluted those serving in the armed forces.  We remembered our German heritage by hefting the national beverage and ate as if we had just finished a hard day's work behind a plow.  It was great fun.

Upper Photo:  Health and Physical Education Committee
Lower Photo:  David Liptak, Carole Kulzer Brennan, Tom Bozonelos

We did some serious work too, electing a new Executive Council.  Tom Bozonelos will have a second term of office as our National President.  David Liptak was voted in as our new Second Vice President and this writer was selected to serve as First Vice President.  We made adjustments for our future and talked about a greater inclusion of youngsters to insure a continuation of A Sound Mind in a Sound Body.
I left wondering how we, citizens from every part of our country, found it easy to come together, have discussions and arrive at a unified position and yet our political leaders can't.  What was the difference?  There's a wonderful German word to described that difference:  Gemütlichkeit.  We should all strive for that!