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HEALTH: Preventing Falls Among Older Adults  

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Dr. Mike Kern, John Muir Health

 

Did you know that falls are a leading cause of injury among older adults? According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “one-fourth of Americans aged 65+ falls each year.”

 

Falls, particularly among older people, are serious and frequently cause injury as people in this age group are often more fragile to begin with, magnifying any injury that occurs. When we’re young, we have the ability and resiliency to bounce-back quickly from minor spills or falls. Such is not the case as we get older, when even minor falls can cause significant injuries.

 

The patients I most commonly come into contact with who have experienced falls are older adults, primarily women, those with cognitive/balance problems, and those who have fallen before. While others are certainly prone to falling, these are the individuals I routinely see as high risk.

 

As you might imagine, there are a number of injuries an older person may sustain as a result of a fall. The most common is bruising and, more alarming and obviously debilitating, fractured hips. Other injuries we see as a result of older adults falling include leg and arm fractures, rib fractures, and head injuries. Death is rare, but not entirely uncommon.

 

There are a number of factors that can cause falls among older people including various medical conditions, medications, illness, lack of physical activity, home hazards such as slippery rugs or getting out of the tub or shower, and arthritis of the hip or knee which can certainly increase the chance of falling. Cognitive impairments such as a decline in one’s memory, motor or thinking skills may also place a person at greater risk for falling. Certain medications such as tranquilizers and high blood pressure medications can also increase the risk of falling.

 

Symptoms such as dizziness and/or lightheadedness, which can be brought on by a number of circumstances, can also lead to falling. Falls, however, can also be indicative of an underlying, more serious illness such as diabetes, Parkinson’s or even the presence of chronic musculoskeletal injuries. It’s a good idea to visit your doctor for a “fall screening” if you experience any of these symptoms.

 

Fortunately, there are some easy changes that older adults can make to help prevent falls. Simple things such as choice of footwear can make all the difference in the world. I recommend shoes with thin, hard soles for my patients. These types of soles provide stability, firmness and balance when walking. Running shoes are also quite popular among older folks for the comfort and firm grip they offer. I discourage patients from walking around in socks and bare feet, which tend to greatly increase the risk of slipping and falling.

 

Physical activity is also critical to keeping bones and joints strong and preventing falls. Physically active older adults are much less at risk for falls primarily because of their leg strength. When evaluating a person for risk of falling, we typically look at how long it takes the individual to get up from a seated position to walking. The longer it takes for someone to ‘get up and go’, the greater the risk he or she is for falling.

 

If one of my patients is identified as being at a higher than average risk for falls, I recommend lab tests that check for conditions which may increase the risk for falls.

 

The tests include those for hemoglobin, glucose, kidney function and vitamin D. If someone is deficient in vitamin D, for instance, treatment with supplements can go a long way towards improving his or her condition and decreasing their risk of a fall.

 

In addition, there are a number of preventative measures people can take to make their homes safe. High risk older adults should have their homes evaluated by an occupational therapist to ensure they are equipped with safety features such as rails, ramps and rubber-gripped bath/shower mats and any hazards, such as slippery throw rugs, are removed. An occupational therapist may even suggest walking/mobility devices and/or canes for added precaution.

 

I’m often asked when someone should consult their doctor about falls. I recommend that all older adults be screened for fall risk. People with vision or hearing problems or those who have fallen at least once, are particularly at risk and should be evaluated.

 

If you have been falling recently, experiencing balance problems or have other concerns, I encourage you to see your doctor immediately. Falls, and their underlying symptoms, are not something to take lightly. Stay healthy!

 

Dr. Mike Kern is a John Muir Health family doctor, practicing along with Dr. Elsa Tsutaoka.

 

Dr. Kern & Tsutaoka’s office is located at 3318 Elm St. in Oakland and open from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, as well as Tuesday evening and Saturday morning.

 

To schedule an appointment, call (510) 985-3620.

 

Learn more about them at www.johnmuirhealth.com/findadoctor.

 

 

 

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Remembering George Floyd

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — Minnesota State Attorney General Keith Ellison acknowledges that the Floyd case five years ago involved a situation in which due process was denied, and five years later, the president is currently dismissing “due process. “The Minnesota Atty General also says, “Trump is trying to attack constitutional rule, attacking congressional authority and judicial decision-making.” George Floyd was an African American man killed by police who knocked on his neck and on his back, preventing him from breathing.

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Mural showing the portrait of George Floyd in Mauerpark in Berlin. To the left of the portrait the lettering "I can't Breathe" was added, on the right side the three hashtags #GeorgeFloyd, #Icantbreathe and #Sayhisname. The mural was completed by Eme Street Art (facebook name) / Eme Free Thinker (signature) on 29 May 2020. (Wikimedia Commons)
Mural showing the portrait of George Floyd in Mauerpark in Berlin. To the left of the portrait the lettering "I can't Breathe" was added, on the right side the three hashtags #GeorgeFloyd, #Icantbreathe and #Sayhisname. The mural was completed by Eme Street Art (facebook name) / Eme Free Thinker (signature) on 29 May 2020. (Wikimedia Commons)

By April Ryan
BlackPressUSA Newswire

“The president’s been very clear he has no intentions of pardoning Derek Chauvin, and it’s not a request that we’re looking at,” confirms a senior staffer at the Trump White House. That White House response results from public hope, including from a close Trump ally, Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. The timing of Greene’s hopes coincides with the Justice Department’s recent decision to end oversight of local police accused of abuse. It also falls on the fifth anniversary of the police-involved death of George Floyd on May 25th. The death sparked national and worldwide outrage and became a transitional moment politically and culturally, although the outcry for laws on police accountability failed.

The death forced then-Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden to focus on deadly police force and accountability. His efforts while president to pass the George Floyd Justice in policing act failed. The death of George Floyd also put a spotlight on the Black community, forcing then-candidate Biden to choose a Black woman running mate. Kamala Harris ultimately became vice president of the United States alongside Joe Biden. Minnesota State Attorney General Keith Ellison prosecuted the cases against the officers involved in the death of Floyd. He remembers,” Trump was in office when George Floyd was killed, and I would blame Trump for creating a negative environment for police-community relations. Remember, it was him who said when the looting starts, the shooting starts, it was him who got rid of all the consent decrees that were in place by the Obama administration.”

In 2025, Police-involved civilian deaths are up by “about 100 to about 11 hundred,” according to Ellison. Ellison acknowledges that the Floyd case five years ago involved a situation in which due process was denied, and five years later, the president is currently dismissing “due process. “The Minnesota Atty General also says, “Trump is trying to attack constitutional rule, attacking congressional authority and judicial decision-making.” George Floyd was an African-American man killed by police who knocked on his neck and on his back, preventing him from breathing. During those minutes on the ground, Floyd cried out for his late mother several times. Police subdued Floyd for an alleged counterfeit $20 bill.

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Oakland Post: Week of May 28 – June 30, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 28 – June 3, 2025

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Black Feminist Movement Mobilizes in Response to National Threats

BLACKPRESSUSA NEWSWIRE — More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States.

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By Stacy M. Brown
Black Press USA Senior National Correspondent

More than 500 Black feminists will convene in New Orleans from June 5 through 7 for what organizers are calling the largest Black feminist gathering in the United States. The event, led by the organization Black Feminist Future, is headlined by activist and scholar Angela Y. Davis. Paris Hatcher, executive director of Black Feminist Future, joined Black Press USA’s Let It Be Known to outline the mission and urgency behind the gathering, titled “Get Free.” “This is not just a conference to dress up and have a good time,” Hatcher said. “We’re building power to address the conditions that are putting our lives at risk—whether that’s policing, reproductive injustice, or economic inequality.” Hatcher pointed to issues such as rising evictions among Black families, the rollback of bodily autonomy laws, and the high cost of living as key drivers of the event’s agenda. “Our communities are facing premature death,” she said.

Workshops and plenaries will focus on direct action, policy advocacy, and practical organizing skills. Attendees will participate in training sessions that include how to resist evictions, organize around immigration enforcement, and disrupt systemic policies contributing to poverty and incarceration. “This is about fighting back,” Hatcher said. “We’re not conceding anything.” Hatcher addressed the persistent misconceptions about Black feminism, including the idea that it is a movement against men or families. “Black feminism is not a rejection of men,” she said. “It’s a rejection of patriarchy. Black men must be part of this struggle because patriarchy harms them too.” She also responded to claims that organizing around Black women’s issues weakens broader coalitions. “We don’t live single-issue lives,” Hatcher said. “Our blueprint is one that lifts all Black people.”

The conference will not be streamed virtually, but recaps and updates will be posted daily on Black Feminist Future’s YouTube channel and Instagram account. The event includes performances by Tank and the Bangas and honors longtime activists including Billy Avery, Erica Huggins, and Alexis Pauline Gumbs. When asked how Black feminism helps families, Hatcher said the real threat to family stability is systemic oppression. “If we want to talk about strong Black families, we have to talk about mass incarceration, the income gap, and the systems that tear our families apart,” Hatcher said. “Black feminism gives us the tools to build and sustain healthy families—not just survive but thrive.”

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