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CHICAGO (AP) — New research shows fatal falls have nearly tripled in older Americans in recent years, rising to more than 25,000 deaths yearly.
The findings highlight the importance of fall prevention. A separate study bolsters evidence that programs focusing on improving muscle strength and balance can help achieve that goal.
Both studies were published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
Circumstances weren’t included in the data, but traumatic brain injuries and hip fractures leading to steep health declines are among causes of death in older adults who fall.
“Deaths from falls may have increased because older people are living longer, living longer independently, and are living longer with chronic conditions,” said Elizabeth Burns, a study co-author and health scientist at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s injury center.
She noted that some medications also make older adults prone to falls. That includes prescription drugs affecting balance. Burns said research shows their use of certain psychiatric medications that can cause drowsiness and vision problems has increased substantially in recent years.
The new analysis included 16 years of U.S. vital statistics data on adults aged 75. Fatal falls increased from 8,600 in 2000 to 25,190 in 2016. Separate CDC data show they climbed even higher in 2017, to almost 26,440 fatal falls in Americans aged 75 and older.
The rate in the study more than doubled, from 51 fatal falls per 100,000 people to 122 falls per 100,000. The results echo studies of fatal fall trends in the Netherlands and other European countries.
Weight-bearing exercise such as walking; balance exercises; and resistance exercises to strengthen muscles can also reduce risks for falls, said Dr. Marco Pahor of the University of Florida’s aging and geriatric research department, who wrote an accompanying journal editorial.
The program studied in the second study involved exercises three times a week at home for a year, with five sessions led by a physical therapist. These include seated and standing leg lifts, knee bends and backward walking, plus walking half an hour at least twice weekly.
Participants were 344 Canadian adults aged 70 and older who had experienced a recent fall. Half were randomly assigned to the program plus usual care by a doctor; the remainder received only usual care.
There were 236 falls during the study among the exercise group compared with 366 falls among the others.
Pahor said many older adults aren’t aware of programs that can help them. Many U.S. communities offer fall prevention exercises programs at senior centers, and the National Council on Aging offers tips online.
NEW YORK (AP) — Google will start its Stadia streaming service to challenge the video game industry in November — but initially only as part of a $130 bundle that includes hardware and a pass for a friend.
Google announced the game service in March with few details. On Thursday, Google said it will start advance sales for the limited “Founder’s Edition” bundles right away, though it isn’t saying how many are available. Google won’t offer stand-alone subscriptions, for $10 a month, until next year.
Stadia is Google’s attempt to make traditional video game consoles such as the Xbox and PlayStation obsolete.
Games are stored online, and players can pick up where they left off on traditional computers with Google’s Chrome browsers and Chromebooks running Chrome OS. Players can also use Google’s Pixel phones, but not other phones with the company’s Android operating system. Unlike traditional games, the streaming service requires a constant internet connection to play.
Much like movies and music, the traditional video game industry has been shifting from physical hardware and games to digital downloads and streaming. The makers of leading consoles have their own subscription services as well, while Apple plans one this fall. The U.S. video game industry raked in revenue of $43.4 billion in 2018, up 18 percent from 2017, according to research firm NPD Group.
Video game streaming typically requires a strong connection and more computing power than simply streaming video, since there is real-time interaction between player and game. Google says it is tapping its massive data centers to power the system.
The service will mainly let players play games they buy separately, though some free games will be offered. Stadia will launch with about 30 games to buy, including “Doom Eternal,” “Assassin’s Creed Odyssey” and “Wolfen-stein: Youngblood.”
The “Founder’s Edition” package includes three months of Stadia and a three-month buddy pass that someone else can use. It’ll come with a limited edition controller and a Chromecast Ultra streaming video device. Google says the whole package is worth about $300 but costs $130. It will be available in 14 countries at launch, including the U.S., Canada, U.K., France and Germany.
Next year, Google will offer Stadia Pro for $10 a month and a free version, Stadia Base. With the free version, resolution will be lower, and players won’t get discount on games offered through Pro and the bundle. An optional Stadia controller will sell for $69.
The Wi-Fi-enabled controller has a button that lets players tap Google Assistant to ask questions about the games being played. Another button lets users share gameplay directly to Google’s video streaming service, YouTube.
Google said playing video games will be as simple as pressing a “Play Now” button. Players won’t have to download or install anything.
Sony offers a PlayStation Now streaming service that’s $20 for a one-month subscription or $45 for three months. It offers unlimited access to 750 games for streaming or downloads, which allow for offline play. Microsoft’s $10-a-month Xbox Game Pass offers about 100 games for free download. Microsoft is also working on a streaming service called Project xCloud.
The upcoming Apple Arcade subscription will feature more than 100 games for download, curated by Apple and exclusive to the service. Apple hasn’t announced a price yet. The games can be played on Apple devices only.
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March 25, 1933 – June 5, 2019
Funeral services for Sylvia Hoy Brumfield will be held Saturday, June 8, 2019, at 12:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Franklin. Following the service she will be laid to rest with her beloved husband and her parents in the Franklin Cemetery. Reverend Susan Pugh will conduct the services.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed Saturday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until time of service.
Sylvia was born in Franklin on Saturday, March 25, 1933, and passed away at the age of 86 on Wednesday, June 5, 2019, at the Franklin Health Care Center. She was a lifelong resident of Franklin and was the eldest of four children born to Andrew Lawrence Hoy Jr. and Sarah Moore Hoy. In 1959 she married the love of her life, Daniel Brumfield, and the two were blessed with three children. Sylvia was an active and longtime member of the First United Methodist Church in Franklin which played a vital part in her life. She was a fun-loving lady who had a wit about her and could often be found with a canaille look in her eyes. Some of her favorite pastimes were family gatherings, playing card games of all sorts, cooking, and watching just about any sports game that was on, especially her beloved Saints and LSU, of which she would say she was their #1 fan. Sylvia was also a people person who never met a stranger and would talk to any and everyone she met. She lived Christ’s commandment to love one another, as she loved all she come in contact with and was most definitely loved by all.
Her memory will forever remain in the hearts of her three children, Bart Brumfield and his wife Phyllis, Beth Brumfield Puckett and her husband John, and Brian Brumfield and his wife JoAnn; her three siblings, Sallie Hoy Paulsen, Larry Hoy and his wife Margaret, and Sarah Hoy Jackson and her husband John; two grandchildren, Emily Yesso and Jesse Brumfield; three step grandchildren, Jason Percle, Jeremy Percle, and Nicci Turner; one great granddaughter, Addie Yesso; five step great grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, family members and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 47 years, Daniel J. Brumfield; her parents, Andrew Lawrence Hoy Jr. and Sarah Moore Hoy; and her brother-in-law, Jim Paulsen.
Serving as pallbearers will be Jesse Brumfield, Travis Yesso, Bobby McDonald, Monty Taylor, Jerry Bourque, and Dwayne Hebert. Honorary pallbearer will be Larry Hoy.
The Brumfield family extends their heartfelt gratitude to her dedicated caregivers, Kathleen Molaison, Melba Maze, Delores Cook, Leona Crappell, Sara Hebert, Alice Colbert, Annie Boudreaux, Sharon Landry, Destiny Landry, and Ora Notsworthy, the staff of Franklin Health Care Center, and Amy with Heart of Hospice for the loving care given to their mother.
Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 920 Main St., Franklin, LA 70538.
Family and friends may view the obituary and express their condolences online by visiting www.iberts.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary, Inc., 1007 Main Street, Franklin, LA 70538, (337) 828-5426.
Morgan City police are investigating an armed robbery that occurred about 4:30 p.m. Thursday at a business on 8th Street in Morgan City. Initial reports indicate two armed individuals entered the business committing an armed robbery before fleeing the scene in a dark color Nissan passenger car with dark color rims. Investigators believe the two suspects involved are either light complected Hispanic or African-American males, a news release said.
The Morgan City Police Department is seeking public assistance and urging witnesses to call the Morgan City Police Department with information at 985-380-4605
Morgan City officials closed several gates along the floodwall Thursday due to a quick rise in the Atchafalaya River, Mayor Frank “Boo” Grizzaffi said. The National Weather Service website shows the river rose about 6 inches in five hours Thursday.
The Atchafalaya at Morgan City rose from 8.22 feet at 8 a.m. Thursday to 8.72 feet at 1 p.m. Thursday, according to the National Weather Service website. The forecast shows the river should crest near 9 feet Wednesday evening. Harry P Williams Memorial Airport near Patterson got almost 2 inches of rain from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. Thursday.
A south wind, high tide and rain Thursday morning contributed river rise, Grizzaffi said. Officials were planning to close the Ann Drive and Levee Road gates Thursday afternoon and close the Terrebonne Street Thursday evening. City officials tried to keep the gates open as long as possible to accommodate businesses, but had to eventually close the gates because of the rising water, Grizzaffi said.
Among the gates closed Thursday were the PMI gate and two gates behind Halliburton along Youngs Road.
Berwick officials planned to close the Texas Street gate Friday morning due to the rising water. Mayor Duval Arthur said officials would keep that gate open, if possible, but a continued south wind would likely make that closure necessary.
Based on the current forecast, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will not operate the Morganza Floodway on Sunday and does not have an expected operating date, a news release said.
Future weather events could impact Mississippi River levels and the Corps will continue to monitor the forecast daily as conditions can change.
Operation of the structure will be a consideration until the Mississippi River crests and begins to fall. The expected crest at Morganza is on or about June 15, but it will then remain high for two weeks or more, the release said.
Berwick town officials plan to close the Texas Street Gate on Friday morning due to rising water. The Atchafalaya River stage at Morgan City was at 8.72 feet as of 1 p.m. Thursday and forecast to reach near 9 feet later Thursday afternoon, according to the National Weather Service.
The CEO of Ochsner Health System, which is slated to become the new operator of Teche Regional Medical Center, will speak in Morgan City next week.
Warner Thomas is the guest speaker for Wednesday’s St. Mary Industrial Group luncheon meeting at the Petroleum Club of Morgan City. The meeting starts at noon and is open to public at a cost of $10 per guest. Reservations are required. To make a reservation, contact Carolyn Doiron at cdoiron@ogrsllc.com or 985-385-9868 by Monday.
Thomas said during a March 27 news conference that he was “100% confident” that the deal would be completed for Ochsner to become the operator of the Morgan City hospital.
Last month, the St. Mary Parish Hospital Service District No. 2 Board authorized Chairman Dr. Bill Cefalu to sign a negotiated lease agreement with Ochsner to operate Teche Regional Medical Center in Morgan City. Ochsner operates 14 other medical facilities in Louisiana.
The board is responsible for finding a tenant to operate the 167-bed hospital after current operator LifePoint Health of Brentwood, Tennessee, announced last year that it intended to cease operating hospitals in Louisiana.
Board Attorney Bill Bourgeois said Thursday that “everybody’s been working very hard on the transition.”
At the May board meeting, Cefalu said now that he had the authority to sign the lease with Ochsner, the board would start focusing more energy on finalizing negotiations on a legal settlement with LifePoint.
Franklin Banner-Tribune
P.O. Box 566, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: 337-828-3706
Fax: 337-828-2874
Morgan City Review
1014 Front Street, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: 985-384-8370
Fax: 985-384-4255