falls prevention

Evidence-based community falls prevention programs can reduce falls, risk factors, and costs associated with falls. Community-based programs address a wide range of risk factors such as improving muscle strength and balance, removing home hazards that contribute to falls, and increasing confidence to engage in falls-reduction activities. NCOA's infographic highlights key statistics on falls injuries and solutions to help save lives and money.

This report was released by the U.S. Senate Special Committee on Aging. The report notes that one in four Americans 65 and older falls each year, leading to lasting health and economic consequences. Falls are preventable and not necessarily a part of the normal aging process. The report also includes a list of recommendations from the committee.

This study reviews literature on fall risk factors and prevention strategies. It uses peer-reviewed research from between 1994 and 2017 to estimate the number of medically treated falls that could be prevented and the direct medical costs that could be adverted. The estimates were created by looking specifically at evidence-based fall interventions in clinical settings.