Yangcheon-gu Provides 'Visiting Fall Prevention Education for Seniors' at Senior Centers and Welfare Centers

Visiting Education for Over 600 Seniors at 20 Institutions Including Senior Centers, Welfare Centers, and Dong Community Centers from June to October
Theoretical Education on Fall Prevention Awareness, Prevention, and Response + Basic Exercise Practice Combining Trot Music and Rhythmic Movement

Lee Gi-jae, Yangcheon District Mayor, Visits Senior Safety Housing

Yangcheon-gu (Mayor Lee Gi-jae) is conducting a "Visiting Fall Prevention Education for Seniors" targeting over 600 seniors aged 65 and older from this month until October to prevent fall accidents among the elderly and create a safer living environment.

This education is part of the 2024 Senior Safe Housing Environment Improvement Project. According to the 2020 Elderly Survey published by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, about 7.2% of seniors aged 65 and older experienced a fall in the past year, and the fall experience rate among those aged 85 and older reached 13.6%. Additionally, according to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency’s National Injury Survey Statistics (2019-2021), falls account for 60.9% of major injuries among the elderly, making it the most common cause?approximately three times higher than traffic accidents (19.1%).

Such fall accidents go beyond simple injuries, causing long-term health problems and medical expenses, significantly lowering the quality of life in old age. Accordingly, the district aims to help seniors learn how to prevent falls themselves through this education and apply these methods in daily life to enjoy a safer lifestyle.

The education will be held at about 20 institutions including welfare centers, senior centers, and community service centers within the district, starting from Hanbit Comprehensive Social Welfare Center on the 10th of this month until October, with 20 to 50 seniors participating per session, totaling over 600 seniors.

The course consists of theory and practice and will be conducted for two hours per session under the guidance of professional instructors in related fields. The theoretical education will provide a fall prevention manual and guide seniors on improving awareness based on a fall risk survey, methods to prevent and respond to fall accidents, checking hazardous factors at home, and ways to improve lifestyle habits. The practical education will teach basic exercises to prevent falls, such as proper walking, strength and balance-enhancing postures, and calisthenics, combined with trot music and rhythmic movements.

Lee Gi-jae, Mayor of Yangcheon-gu, said, "Through this fall prevention education, we aim to create an environment where seniors can live safely," adding, "We will continue to do our best so that our seniors can enjoy a healthy and happy life in their daily lives."