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Center for Healthy Aging

• National Falls Free Coalition
  
• Fall Prevention Awareness Day web support page
  
• Evidence based programs
  
• Aging resources

National Falls Free Coalition

ICAA is a member of the National Falls FreeTM Coalition and proudly offers its members a number of informative links to many of the Falls FreeTM national and state activities addressing fall prevention.  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. In 2005, 15,800 people 65 and older died from injuries related to unintentional falls; about 1.8 million people 65 and older were treated in emergency departments for nonfatal injuries from falls, and more than 433,000 of these patients were hospitalized (CDC Injury Prevention & Control: Home and Recreational Safety).

A variety of initiatives at the national, state and local levels are underway to promote evidence-based fall prevention strategies, we encourage you to include fall prevention in your active aging week portfolio.   

State Coalitions on Fall Prevention: A Compendium of Initiatives
31 states are coalescing around the issue of fall prevention in the elderly promoting awareness, education and training, and bringing evidence-based, integrated solutions to communities. This compendium includes relevant information (including contact information) for each state coalition on fall prevention.  NCOA and the State Coalitions on Fall Prevention Workgroup members encourage you to become active with your state coalition or to contact us at fallsfree@ncoa.org if you would like to promote a coalition in your state.

Fall Prevention Awareness Day web support page

National Falls Prevention Awareness Day is observed on the first day of fall to promote and increase public awareness about how to prevent and reduce falls among older adults.  The tools and resources on this page--provided by state and local communities--are intended to help states and communities plan and implement Falls Prevention Awareness Day activities.

Falls Prevention Awareness: Findings and Lessons Learned from State Coalitions on Fall Prevention
This publication highlights findings from a recent survey of fall prevention awareness campaigns. To better understand the falls prevention awareness campaigns that states and their falls prevention coalitions have implemented, and the lessons learned from the awareness initiatives, the UNC Institute on Aging interviewed ten state agencies and one national organization between October 2008 and February 2009. To contribute additional information, four states provided results from focus groups with older adults that they had conducted on falls prevention awareness. 

Multi-factorial and Physical Activity Programs for Fall Prevention
This issue brief--prepared by the Fall Prevention Center of Excellence--is designed to provide an overview of evidence-based fall risk reduction/ prevention programs. It is intended to assist service providers with selecting the intervention program that best suits the needs of their clients, within the constraints of available resources. Ten fall risk reduction/prevention programs are described in this program review. Programs were selected according to the following criteria: a) a clear focus on fall risk reduction, b) the availability of replication materials, and c) published evidence of program efficacy and/ or extensive field testing.

Advocacy:

In 2008 the Safety of Seniors Act was signed into law with provisions to fund an awareness campaign, provide education and training for providers, and conduct evidence-based fall prevention demonstration projects in local communities. It was passed without any appropriations to support those provisions. In FY 2009 and 2010 the Falls FreeTM  Coalition Advocacy Workgroup successfully advocated for additional CDC/National Center for Injury Prevention and Control funding, which is being used to support demonstration projects in four states.  States are being funded to implement two evidence-based fall prevention programs (Stepping On and Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance). For a $19 Billion problem CDC now gets $2 Million. Help us to advocate for appropriate funding levels; to learn how contact fallsfree@ncoa.org

Evidence-based program summary

In 2003, the Administration on Aging began its Evidence-Based Prevention Program. Its goal is to increase seniors’ access to interventions that have proven to be effective in reducing their risk of disease, disability, and injury.

As a result of rigorous research and clinical trials, there are evidence-based health promotion programs in chronic disease self-management, physical activity, diabetes, nutrition, smoking cessation, fall prevention, and medication management that effectively improve the health of older adults. Information about specific interventions can be found at http://www.healthyagingprograms.org.

Programs include:

• A Matter of Balance acknowledges the risk of falling but emphasizes practical coping strategies to reduce this fear.
  
  
• Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program is a community-based recreational exercise program developed by the Arthritis Foundation. Trained AEFP instructors cover a variety of range-of-motion and endurance-building activities, relaxation techniques, and health education topics.
  
  
• Chronic Disease Self-Management Program is a lay-led participant education program that provides information and teaches practical skills on managing chronic health problems. The CDSMP gives people the confidence and motivation they need to manage the challenges of living with a chronic health condition.
  
  
• EnhanceFitness is a group exercise program developed specifically for older adults. The exercises have been packaged into a formal regimen focusing on four key areas important to the health and fitness of mature participants: stretching and flexibility; low impact aerobics; strength training; and balance.
  
  
• EnhanceWellness is an individualized, community-based wellness intervention designed to promote the health and functioning of community-dwelling older adults at risk of functional decline. The intervention was designed to identify potentially modifiable risk factors for disability and promote behavior change to reverse those risk factors.
  
  
• Fit and Strong! is an physical activity/behavior change community-based intervention. Fit and Strong! blends a multiple component exercise program with group problem solving/education using a curriculum designed to facilitate arthritis symptom management, confidence in ability to exercise safely with arthritis, and commitment to lifestyle change.
  
  
• Healthy Eating for Successful Living is an educational and support program designed to assist older adults in the self-management of their nutritional health.
  
  
• Healthy IDEAS for a Better Life is a community depression program designed to detect and reduce the severity of depressive symptoms in older adults with chronic health conditions and functional limitations.
  
  
• Healthy Moves for Aging Well is a physical activity program designed to enhance health outcomes for frail, high-risk and diverse older adults receiving services in the home.

General aging resources

Updated Exercise and Physical Activity Tips for Older Adults Now Available on NIHSeniorHealth Site
Older adults who are interested in becoming physically active, restarting a lapsed exercise regimen or getting more benefit from their current exercise program can check out the updated Exercise and Physical Activity for Older Adults topic on NIHSeniorHealth, a website designed especially for older adults.

Eldercare Locator
This public service of the U.S. Administration on Aging connects older Americans and their caregivers with sources of information on senior services. The service links those who need assistance with state and local area agencies on aging and community-based organizations that serve older adults and their caregivers.

Firstgov.gov for Seniors
This federal Web site houses wide-ranging links to support older adults and professional service providers.

National Council on Aging
The National Council on Aging is a national network of organizations and individuals dedicated to improving the health and independence of older persons and increasing their continuing contributions to communities, society and future generations. www.ncoa.org

U.S. Administration on Aging
Search by state to identify state and area agencies on aging.

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