Preventing Falls, Improving Health: A Falls Prevention Awareness Week Q&A

September 24, 2024

This week is Falls Prevention Awareness Week, an observance created by ACL's National Falls Prevention Resource Center to raise awareness of falls and inspire action to prevent them. The importance of preventing falls among older adults and people with disabilities cannot be overstated. Fall-related injuries are a significant threat to health and independence. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in four older Americans falls each year. While studies are limited, data suggest adults with disabilities aged 45 to 59 may have higher rates of falls than people over 60.

The good news is that we can reduce risk through evidence-based falls prevention programs that combine education and exercise to help people build strength, stability, and flexibility. These programs can also educate participants on their choices around evaluating home safety and modifications, and they offer opportunities to socialize and connect to other home and community-based services.

To better understand falls and these programs, we asked a few professionals to share their perspectives. Kathy Cameron and Emily Nabors are on the National Council on Aging (NCOA) team operating ACL's National Falls Prevention Resource Center. Karla Cazer works on an ACL-funded falls prevention grant project at Sanford Medical Center in South Dakota.

What makes preventing falls an important component of maintaining our independence?

Cameron/Nabors: The consequences of a fall can be significant - fractured hips, broken bones, brain injuries - and recovery can be lengthy and involve many health and social services. Once someone falls, their risk of falling doubles. People may also experience reduced mobility and a common fear of falling again, both of which can limit activities, independence, and socialization.

Cazer: When someone falls, it can trigger a downward spiral of declining health and well-being. Many fear falling again and lose the confidence to continue the same level of activity and social engagement. This decrease in activity leads to physical weakness and social isolation. Without intervention, the functional decline affects a person's ability to complete their activities of daily living and remain safe and independent at home.

Can you describe your organization's work to prevent falls?

Cameron/Nabors: In 2005, NCOA hosted a National Falls Prevention Summit that resulted in the first National Falls Prevention Action Plan. This plan was updated in 2015 and will be again with input collected at this year's summit. Since 2014, NCOA has operated ACL's National Falls Prevention Resource Center, which raises awareness about falls among older adults, people with disabilities, caregivers, and professionals, and supports implementing evidence-based falls prevention programs nationwide.

Cazer: Four years ago, the Sanford Stand Strong team began working directly with community partners to promote best practices to reduce injury falls and ensure well-being for older adults in our area. As of May 2024, we've facilitated over 99 evidence-based falls prevention classes with more than 1,100 participants. Participants have improved their fall risk scores, reporting increased comfort with discussing fall risk with providers/family, increased comfort with physical activity, and improved satisfaction with life.

We know falls prevention is part of a larger strategy to support healthy community living. How does your organization work to address whole-person well-being?

Cameron/Nabors: Our Center for Healthy Aging addresses all aspects of physical and mental health, including physical activity, nutrition, behavioral health, chronic conditions, and more. We also host the National Institute of Senior Centers to support connecting older adults with a broad range of local resources. We know factors like economic security also impact health. NCOA's Center for Economic Wellbeing helps older adults understand the financial support available, including programs to help save money on health, food, electricity, and resources to find work.

Cazer: I don't need to look further than our mission and vision to explain our focus on whole-person health. We aim to improve the human condition at every stage of life through exceptional care, spiritual enrichment, innovation, and discovery. Sanford has professionals in numerous community-based programs, from athletic trainers at schools to nurses leading injury prevention programming and community health workers working to address social determinants of health.

We often hear that health promotion and prevention efforts can only be truly effective when community partners collaborate. Why do you think it's so essential?

Cameron/Nabors: Partnerships are essential in health promotion and injury prevention. A range of factors can increase the risk of falls, from balance problems and medication side effects to slippery surfaces and behaviors like rushing. Interventions require partners from the fields of aging, disability, housing, health care, and more. In recognition of the power of partnerships, state falls prevention coalitions have been established across the country.

Cazer: Collaboration and integration are important pieces in the puzzle! Our most successful programs happen when we work together to bring programming and information to where people live, work, and play. In our community, that means partnering with senior centers, retirement communities, and faith communities. In addition to bringing programs to the people, we partner with other agencies, universities, and clubs to recruit a larger pool of diverse coaches and leaders and acquire sponsorship support.

When you think about the trends in your work and community, what is the most exciting - or surprising - to you?

Cameron/Nabors: We are seeing more partnerships with emergency medical services and fire departments. First responders receive many "lift assist" calls for people who have fallen and can provide education, home assessments, and referrals to programs and services. We also see partnerships with specialists like physical and occupational therapists, pharmacists, audiologists, and ophthalmologists. There is growing recognition of the value diverse partners bring to the table.

Cazer: I love the joy and creativity of the older volunteers who lead their peers. We have volunteers from all walks of life - former schoolteachers, nurses, mail carriers, pastors, and artists. They love to share success stories and see the improvements others make. We often hear they get as much or more out of their time as the participants!