Saturday 7 September 2024
By Tom Malaba, Editorial Associate
Dr. Benjamin Mgbemena, a retired physician specializing in internal medicine has advised seniors to always sleep with a flashlight to avoid night falls, a prevalent problem among seniors.
Speaking on the side of the Ottawa Golden Oldies Black Seniors Social Club gathering at Sandy Hill Community Centre on September 7, Dr. Mgbemena said; “When you wake up at night you are confused, the first thing they think about is to try and find the light that is when falls happen.”
“If people sleep with a flashlight, they can reach for it after waking up. The flashlight will help them see where they are going and reduce instability a precursor to night falls,” Dr. Mgbemena a retired physicist advised.
During the afternoon that brought together over forty Black seniors to discuss fall prevention for seniors, they were in agreement that falls were common.
A Community Engagement Coordinator from Ottawa Public Health, Ms. Erica Kamikazi advised the Black seniors to first calm down in case of a fall, check their body to see whether they are injured, call for help, and ensure they stay warm.
While sensitizing them what to do in-case of a fall, Ms. Kamikazi gave them a step-by-step advise how to react after a fall. “In case of a fall, roll onto your side, crawl over to a chair or steady piece of furniture and from a kneeling position, put your arms up onto the seat of the chair,” Ms. Kamikazi advised.
While displaying graphic pictures, Ms. Kamikazi further advised the seniors to bring one knee forward; place that foot on the floor, then push with arms and legs, pivot your bottom around sit down, and rest before trying to move.
Ms. Kamikazi acknowledged that though falls were common, they were preventable and in that regard, she advised the Black seniors to get involved in strength and balance exercises to regain their stability.
However, she advised the Black Senior to talk to their doctors to ensure exercises are right for them. “If you feel pain, shortness of breath, or dizziness while doing exercises, stop and talk to your doctor.
“When you are exercising wear comfortable clothing, supportive footwear, with running or walking shoes. To prevent injury; warm up for five minutes or walk to match on the spot. Take 5 minutes to cool down at the end.”
According to her; exercises become easier after strength improves. “If you can do each exercise 15 times, repeat all the exercises a second and third time. When you feel steady, challenge yourself by holding on to the chair with only one hand. Try one fingertip or no hands as your balance,” Ms. Kamukazi said.
Ms. Kamikazi gave the Black seniors graphic pictures showing how the Black seniors can exercise using a chair. Some of the exercises the Black seniors were advised to do include Hamstring curls, small squats, black leg raises, side leg raises, toe stand, flamingo, walking the line and wall push-ups.
To improve their stability and avoid falling, the Black seniors also shown exercises that can do using a resistant band. Among these is seated leg presses, seated side arm raises, side leg raises, back leg raises, and squats.
The evening was graced by the President of Flo’s Seniors, Ms. Joanne Robinson whose organization works with Black seniors and engages them in voluntary activities to help them reduce ageism. According to Ms. Robinson, in her organization, they call and chat with seniors, provide bread, and provide Christmas gifts to those in need.
“In most times we find that these seniors want to talk to someone. That alone reduces depression and many of them always look up to our calls or visits,” Ms Robinson said of the role played by her organization to comfort Seniors in need.
According to Ms. Robinson, sometimes she has had to walk into people’s homes uninvited and talk to them. “When I was growing up, visitors were always coming and going. It was a revolving door but today you must first call someone before you visit them,” Ms Robinson said but on many times she has turned up at people’s homes uninvited to talk to them.
The Black Seniors also heard from Ms Ogo Nnebe whose organization Blissful Garden Bouquets has this year sent out 554 flower bouquets to people in hospitals free as a gesture of love to those in need.
Last year this organization sent out 650 bouquets to hospitals and long-term care homes. “It’s something we enjoy doing. If you can cut flowers and enjoy arranging different flowers into bouquets, you are welcome,” Ms Nnebe said calling on Black Seniors to join her effort. Ms. Nnebe started growing flowers in her backyard during COVID-19 when many people around Ottawa took to gardening. The flowers grew and has since given birth to Blissful Garden Bouquets.
Ms. Chandonette Johnson from Jaku Konbit also told the Black Seniors that her organization conducts online chair exercises every Wednesday and Friday and invited them to join, while on Mondays the organization hosts an online chat session. The organization also helps seniors to get online for those with computer devices, while those without can be helped to acquire gadgets at a discount.
Also in attendance at the event was the President of the African Association of Ottawa, John Adeyefa and the ACAO Resource Coordinator, Hector Addison.
