| Falls Prevention |
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According to the CDC, more than one third of adults 65 and older fall each year in the United States. Among older adults, falls are the leading cause of injury deaths. They are also the most common cause of nonfatal injuries and hospital admissions for trauma.
CDC's Injury Center has several resources for falls prevention, including fact sheets, brochures, and a "how to" guide designed for community based organizations interested in developing their own fall prevention program. To access these resources, visit http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/preventadultfalls.htm
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| Spotlight |
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Fall Prevention Center of Excellence
Mission: to identify best practices in fall prevention and to help communities offer fall prevention programs to older people who are at risk of falling.
This organization also has several resources to help local health departments and community organizations plan a Falls Prevention Awareness Week Campaign (September 21-27, 2008)
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| NACCHO Publication |
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Falls Prevention Programs in Local Health Departments
This issue brief addresses the connection between chronic disease and the increased risk for falls in older adults and features the efforts of three local health departments--Cuyahoga County (OH) Board of Health, Shasta County (CA) Public Health, and Akron (OH) Health Department--to prevent falls in their communities. A free PDF download is available here: http://www.naccho.org/publications/HPDP/ |
| Research |
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| Elderly Falls Cut by 11 Percent with Education and Intervention
Published in the July 17 New England Journal of Medicine, the study also found that the fall prevention programs resulted in almost 10 percent fewer fall-related hip fractures and head injuries among the elderly, who receive their care from a broad range of health providers in the intervention area. The 11 percent difference translates into about 1,800 fewer injuries, less discomfort and disability for the elderly and about $21 million less in health care costs in the region where the interventions took place, compared with the usual-care region. For more information visit http://opa.yale.edu/news/article.aspx?id=5917 |
| Local Health Department in Action |
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Cuyahoga County (OH) Board of Health
The Home Injury Prevention Program targets seniors 60 years and older and addresses fall related mortality/morbidity. The goal is to build a collaborative network with community organizations currently involved in senior care for the development of a county-wide falls prevention program. The Home Injury Prevention Program incorporates community awareness, focused education for behavioral change and structural modifications of community dwellings to ensure seniors at risk can live safely in their homes.
For more information visit:
http://www.naccho.org/topics/modelpractices/
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| Falls Free Coalition |
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 The Falls Free
Coalition Home Safety Workgroup has released its report spotlighting 10 creative programs and practices in home assessment and modification that can reduce home hazards through replication in community based organizations.
The Creative Practices in Home Safety Assessment and Modification Study provides insights and ideas for implementing new or strengthening existing home safety assessment and modification programs. This report is posted on NCOA's Center for Healthy Aging web site (http://www.healthyagingprograms.org)
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