St. Augustine, Florida—September 14, 2015—Students and 
faculty members from the occupational therapy and physical therapy programs at the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences will be offering free balance check-ups and home safety tips this month in St. Augustine and Ponte Vedra Beach at the Independent Living Expos put on by the St. Johns Falls Prevention Coalition.
Independent Living Expos
Wednesday, Sept. 16
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
River House, 179 Marine St., St. Augustine, Fla.
Thursday, Sept. 24
10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Christ Episcopal Church, 400 San Juan Dr., Ponte Vedra Beach
The expos will also include flu shots, prescription reviews, and demonstrations of car fit, pole walking, tai chi and chair yoga.
Falls are the leading cause of death from injury among Florida’s senior citizens. In 2012, falls caused 2,475 fatal injuries and 62,541 hospitalizations in Florida, with hospital costs in excess of $3.6 billion, according to the National Council on Aging.
Free Home Safety Assessments
St. Johns County residents 65 or older can also schedule a free home safety assessment by contacting the Council on Aging’s Care Connection at 904-209-3648. Home assessments are done by occupational and physical therapy students and faculty members from the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences. Modifications are made by the St. Johns Housing Partnership. Some modifications, such as grab bars for bathrooms, can be made at no cost
About the St. Johns County Falls Prevention Coalition
The St. Johns County Falls Prevention Coalition is a group of local community partners working together collaboratively to address falls and injury in our community. Its members are St. Johns County Fire Rescue (the lead agency), St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, St. Johns County Health and Human Services, Florida Department of Health in St. Johns County, Area Agency on Aging, ElderSource, St. Johns County Council on Aging, Flagler Hospital, Brooks Rehabilitation, St. Johns Housing Partnership, and the University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences.
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About the University of St. Augustine
The University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences (USA) is a graduate institution that emphasizes health science education through innovative quality classroom and distance education. Founded in 1979, USA has locations in San Marcos, California; St. Augustine, Florida; and Austin, Texas. USA offers degree programs in physical therapy, occupational therapy, athletic training, education and health science, as well as residency, fellowship and continuing education programs. For more information, visit www.usa.edu. USA is a member of Laureate International Universities, a network of more than 80 institutions in 28 countries and one of the most significant global higher education providers for health sciences. For more information, visit www.laureate.net.
