The Taylorville Kiwanis Club heard about the many services provided by the Rehabilitation Department at Taylorville Memorial Hospital, at their weekly luncheon Tuesday at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium.

Jodi Holcomb, Sonali Bhole and Sharmila Gopalakrishnan from the Taylorville Memorial Hospital Rehab Department, were the program speakers.  Holcomb gave an outline of the many types of rehab services offered by T-M-H.  Bhole and Gopalakrishnan then discussed a program they’re involved in to prevent falls among community members.  

The 2 gave statistics showing that fall-related deaths in the United States, have increased 30-percent from 2007 to 2016, and that the most common cause of falls is brain injury.

A pilot program the 2 implemented at Hickory Estates in Taylorville, significantly lowered the number of falls by its residents.  Gopalakrishnan gave the statistics.

They added that when the eyes, ears, and feet don’t get the correct commands by the brain, a fall occurs.

The Taylorville Kiwanis Club is part of global organization of volunteers dedicated to improving the world one child and one community at a time.  Weekly meetings are held Tuesdays at noon at the Taylorville Memorial Hospital auditorium.  For information on the club, go to taylorvillekiwanis.com.