Bonita Lynn Beattie

Caring.com Expert

About

Bonita Lynn Beattie (usually known as Lynn Beattie) is the vice president for injury prevention for the Center for Healthy Aging, part of the National Council on Aging (NCOA). She directs the NCOA's Falls Free Initiative, which is developing and implementing a national action plan to prevent falls and fall-related injuries in older adults.

Beattie also serves on the task forces and advisory committees of numerous national health promotion initiatives and research projects, working on behalf of older adults to promote fall prevention, osteoporosis awareness, and aging eye health.

Beattie has her undergraduate degree in health and physical education from East Stroudsburg State University and master's degrees in physical therapy and healthcare administration from Baylor University. In 1998, she completed the master's level gerontology certificate program at the University of Maryland Center on Aging.

Recently Published on Caring.com

  1. Tuesday June 07, 2011

    1. How do I get my mother-in-law to stop climbing on cabinetes before she hurts herself?

      Answer - Thank you for your inquiry about risky behavior taking by your mother in law. You are right to be concerned with her climbing on cabinets and the potential for fall related injuries. A number of questions and suggestions come to mind from your brief but obviously frustrated inquiry. First I am assuming she is living with you now...

  2. Wednesday March 23, 2011

    1. When is the right time to put my mother in law in a wheelchair?

      Answer - When to use a wheelchair to prevent falls in what seems to be an increasingly frail older adult is a difficult question to address without having observed the older adult in various settings. First off, let me extend kudos to you for obtaining a physical therapy consultation and for helping your mother-in-law follow-up on the prescribed exercises...

  3. Wednesday July 07, 2010

    1. What is the safest way to aid a frail senior using a walker?

      Answer - Thank you for your request seeking information to aid a frail senior who is using a walker. You are right to be concerned. While walkers seem to be simple assistive devices, between 2001 and 2006, over 47,000 Senior Citizens per year were treated in emergency rooms because of falls associated with walkers...

  4. Friday May 07, 2010

    1. Are Bed Rails Safe or Not?

      Answer - You are right to be concerned with this situation and I am pleased that you are working to address these recurrent falls. Yes, bed rails can be dangerous, especially at night if your father were to attempt to climb over them.

  5. Friday January 08, 2010

    1. How can I convince my mom to start using a cane?

      Answer - You pose an interesting and far too common question that pointed out individual perceptions of what it means to be old. Or perhaps she is just afraid of using a cane, which is also not uncommon. Let me share a few thoughts about the use of a cane and falls: the [CDC] (http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2009/r090629...

  6. Tuesday January 05, 2010

    1. What's the best way to lower someone to the floor if they are falling?

      Answer - Thank you for your inquiry – you are right to be concerned since lowering someone incorrectly to the floor can result in injury to both of you.

  7. Wednesday November 25, 2009

    1. What would cause sudden falling?

      Answer - You are right to be concerned. Falls are not a normal consequence of aging and the research evidence tells us a history of falling is a good indication of a heightened risk for additional falls. We also know sooner or later repeated falls will result in an injury.