WAUSAU, Wis. — Falls account for one in five EMS calls in Wausau, with most involving adults aged 50 and older, according to the latest Marathon County LIFE Report.
The report calls for more support for older adults, and the Wausau Fire Department’s Community Paramedic program is working to address the issue through prevention and follow-up care, WSAW reported.
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“Our patients are going to the hospital less. We’re seeing them less on the ambulance,” Community Care Paramedic Matt Kozloski said.
Kozloski meets with patients during scheduled weekday visits to identify the underlying causes of repeated emergency calls and connect them with appropriate resources. For older adults, that often includes help with medication management and fall prevention.
For many older adults, the program helps with medication education, adherence and reconciliation, ensuring the medications patients take at home match their hospital records. Wausau EMS responds to more than 1,000 fall-related calls each year.
Kozloski said the program also connects residents with community resources that can help reduce fall risks, including low-cost home modifications such as grab bar installations for qualifying households. Patients can also be referred to the Aging and Disability Resource Center of Central Wisconsin for services that help older adults remain independent in their homes.
