Meet a Fall Prevention Practitioner: Emily Powell
Posted Le 27 janvier 2017
To help build connections and facilitate networking, we are starting a new interview series where we chat with fall prevention practitioners from different sectors, provinces and backgrounds. All of our interviewees are open to connecting with other Loop members and we encourage you to contact them if you see opportunities for collaboration/synergy.
Emily Powell
Health Promoter, Grey Bruce Health Unit
What is your education and background?
I have a degree in Psychology from the University of New Brunswick, a degree in Speech Language Pathology from the University of Western Ontario and I just completed a degree in healthcare management online through McMaster University in 2015.
Describe your current role at your organization.
I am currently working as a Health Promoter with 100% of my work in fall prevention in older adults at the Grey Bruce Health Unit in Owen Sound.
Who do you collaborate with? Do you have any unusual partners?
I spend much of my work collaborating with others in the same role as mine at other health units, Osteoporosis Canada, CCAC, and the ONF as well as local municipalities and local advocacy groups. I am currently pleased to be supporting fall prevention screening with the CHAPS program, which is a pilot project that includes paramedics working in the community in a preventative care model.
When you first started working in fall prevention, was there anything that surprised you?
I honestly had no idea that falls were preventable and that you could reduce your fracture risk. Ya that’s right, I thought they were a normal part of ageing (yikes!)
Do you have any advice for new practitioners?
I really am a new practitioner, so I would take any advice others are willing to share!
Besides fall prevention, what are your passions?
I love exercise, especially hot yoga. I love vegan cooking and eating (but I’m not vegan). I enjoy trying new things like cold pressed juice and hot turmeric lattes. I love to laugh and I have a lot to laugh about with the day to day tribulations of parenting three young children. In terms of my work life, am interested many, many, things from chronic disease self-management to plain packaging in cigarettes.
Has a fall impacted you (or someone you know) personally?
Since I started working in fall prevention, my parents (who are always right into whatever I’m doing) have changed so many things! They exercise daily and they just joined a Tai Chi class. They also regularly act as my guinea pigs patiently listening to my presentations and downloading apps like clock yourself, etc.
Why do you like being part of a Community of Practice?
Because I rely on people outside my organization to move things within falls. This is an area that really needs system wide collaboration and I feel like the CoP has given me lots of support and networking. I’ve also had the wonderful help of the CoP library services which is so valuable to my work.
What’s the “next big thing” in fall prevention? Where do you see the field of fall prevention in 10 years?
The next big thing in fall prevention is probably some fancy technology. I wouldn’t be surprised if in ten years our cell phones will be able to catch us if we fall, or at least predict a fall. One thing I get excited about is the technology around winter shoe sole construction. I was at Toronto Rehab this fall and heard about this new material where they incorporate fabric into the rubber of the soles. Apparently the research demonstrated that they were excellent grip wise and they didn’t become slippery when moving from outdoors to indoor flooring.
CONTACT EMILY: http://www.fallsloop.com/profile/12435