By Kim Eaton

Elizabeth Perry has witnessed firsthand how a simple fall can profoundly impact someone’s life in later years. It happened to her grandmother.

In November 2022, the night before Thanksgiving, her grandmother fell while at home. She tore her rotator cuff, but she chose not to tell anyone because she wanted to preserve her autonomy. She did not join her family for Thanksgiving and, when they went to check on her, she was in bed and had not eaten. She underwent surgery to repair the injury and attempted to return home to live independently, but she faced significant challenges. She moved in with her daughter in February 2023 and passed away about 10 months later.

“I saw firsthand how the fall altered her life,” Perry said. “It impacted her cognitive ability, her quality of life, her independence. It is a true example of how devastating falls can be for the senior population.”

That moment was the inspiration for Perry’s determination to tackle the pressing issue of fall-related injuries among individuals aged 65 and older. She had a purpose, and she had a plan, but the Albert Schweitzer Fellowship program gave her the opportunity to put that plan into action.

Perry has spent her life giving back to her community and always seeking community service opportunities. When she discovered the Fellowship program, she knew it was the perfect fit.

“ASF gave me an opportunity to have the most impact in the community, but also authenticate my passions,” Perry said.

She wanted to implement a fall prevention program that would enhance knowledge of fall risks, as well as awareness of interventions that would reduce the occurrence of falls in the senior population. The next question was location, and for that, she once again turned to family.

Her husband’s family grew up in Titusville. His grandmother raised her children there and her husband grew up there. Titusville was also one of the first Birmingham neighborhoods where African Americans were allowed to own residential and commercial property.

“My project centered around improving quality of life for the senior population,” Perry said. “But I also wanted to ensure the matriarchs and patriarchs within this specific community could maintain dependency in the homes they worked so hard.”

Collaborating with her community partner, Titusville Development Corporation, Perry began implementing her project. She started by offering educational sessions that focused on risk factors associated with falls and how to reduce fall risk in the home. She held four educational sessions – three in churches and one at a community event – and reached about 200 seniors total.

Phase two of her project was the Sloww and Steadi Fall Prevention and Wellness Expo on November 14 at 6th Avenue Baptist Church with more than 130 people in attendance. The Expo included tabling with 22 community vendors addressing needs specific to the senior population; chair aerobics (DJ Maestro with Sixth Avenue Sliders); chair yoga (Mary Williams with Mary Chair Fitness); tai chi (Carole Mazer with Dancing Stones); senior line dancing (Lois Germany with Sixth Avenue Sliders and Tracy Williams with T Will Productions LLC); senior vaccinations (Med Plus); blood pressure screenings (Birmingham Black Nurses Association); physical assessments with physician consultation (LiveSmart Wellness); a heart healthy and diabetic cooking demo (Chef Ray Franklin with Chef Chef Catering); and chair massage (Birmingham School of Massage).

In addition, M3 Endeavors Performance and Physical Therapy provided physical therapy examinations and identified individuals at risk for falls and made recommendations for any mobility equipment those individuals would need. Perry partnered with another group that provided the mobility equipment recommended free of charge.

While many of the individuals and groups involved in Perry’s project donated their services, she received a grant from the Centene Corporation/Ambetter Health to cover expenses not donated. The entire project was truly a community effort spearheaded by Perry – but she’s not finished yet. The final phase involves installation of grab bars in the bathrooms of Titusville seniors who live alone. Perry has partnered with a contractor through the Titusville Development Corporation to provide this last piece.

“I’m extremely proud of the manifestation of this project,” Perry said. “I’ve received great feedback so far and I hope to hear even more during the post-survey following project completion.”

While she had the passion and ideas, her experience as an Albert Schweitzer Fellow gave her the tools to push that project forward and make it a success – offering a more professional approach to engaging with community initiatives and stakeholders while developing and executing a plan as its creator.

“When the selection committee asked me about my project, I told them I was confident I could make this project idea successful because doing so would be in honor of my grandmother,” Perry said. “As an ASF Fellow, my commitment to honoring my grandmother and improving health outcomes for seniors in the Titusville Community is the catalyst that’s making my project successful.”

If you want to support ASF Fellows like Elizabeth in gaining the skills and knowledge to make a difference in their communities, consider making a donation here.