The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is launching a nationwide campaign to empower older adults to take proactive steps to prevent falls.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults in the United States. In an effort to reduce this alarming statistic, NCOA is urging seniors to adopt a proactive approach to fall prevention.
The NCOA’s campaign, Falls Prevention Awareness Week, emphasizes the importance of staying active, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and making necessary home modifications. Research shows that regular physical activity, such as strength and balance exercises, can significantly reduce the risk of falls.
Additionally, making simple adjustments to one’s living environment, such as removing trip hazards and installing handrails, can make a substantial difference in preventing falls.
“Although falls and fall-related injuries happen more frequently with age, the good news is there are many proactive steps older adults and their families can take to prevent them,” Kathleen Cameron, Senior Director at NCOA’s Center for Healthy Aging, said.
The campaign offers a variety of resources and tools, including online exercise videos, safety checklists and expert advice on fall prevention strategies. NCOA encourages older adults to take advantage of these free resources, available on their website ncoa.org/Falls.
NCOA is also collaborating with local senior centers, healthcare providers and community organizations to host fall prevention workshops and screenings across the country. These events will provide older adults with hands-on guidance and support in implementing fall prevention strategies in their daily lives.
NCOA is offering a free online tool called Falls Free CheckUp. Developed in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), test takers are asked a series of questions and produce a score showing whether a person is at normal or high risk for a fall. The assessment creates personalized results and directs you to different resources based on your needs.
Participants can also opt in to reminders to schedule doctor appointments and retake the checkup routinely to monitor changes in lifestyle and risk.
For more information, please visit www.ncoa.org/Falls.
