You have the power to help reduce the likelihood that an older adult will fall.
Monday, Sept. 23 is Fall Prevention Day this year. It is a day designated annually by the National Council on Aging (NCOA) to call attention to steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of falls among older adults.
As NCOA points out, falls are the leading cause of fatal injury and of non-fatal trauma-related hospital admissions among older adults. They can be costly, financially and with a loss of independence.
Fortunately, NCOA says, falling is not an inevitable part of aging. Most falls are preventable.
Here are some steps NCOA suggests you can take to increase your awareness of how to prevent falls among older adults:
- Watch a video on six easy steps for preventing falls.
- Watch the recording of the 2019 Falls Prevention Awareness Day webinar and download the slides.
- Join NCOA for a live broadcast on Facebook at noon Eastern/11 Central time on Sept. 23. The broadcast will feature comments from health care specialists in fall prevention and testimonials from older adults.
- Download the Falls Prevention Conversation Guide for Caregivers.
The 2019 Fall Prevention Awareness Day is made possible in part by support from the Centene Corporation and a grant from the Administration for Community Living.