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Sept. 1, 2026, Arlington, Virginia—The National Council on Aging (NCOA), the national voice for every person’s right to age well, is leading the annual Falls Prevention Awareness Week Sept. 21-25 to spread a simple, yet powerful message: Falls are preventable. 

“There are easy, affordable, and proven steps you can take to reduce your risk of falling, so you can maintain your health and independence,” said Emily Nabors, Associate Director of Innovation for NCOA’s Center for Healthy Aging. “Strength and balance exercises, home modifications, and annual eye and hearing exams are just some examples.” 

NCOA encourages individuals to start by taking a free Falls Free CheckUp®. Visitors to the online tool answer 13 quick questions and receive a personalized falls risk score—along with practical tips to reduce their risk. Available in both English and Spanish, the checkup is an easy way to learn more about falls prevention.​ 

NCOA also offers a variety of trusted resources for older adults and their families, including six steps to prevent a fall, a home safety checklist, tips for caregivers, and advice on what to consider when purchasing a medical alert system. 

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 1 in 4 Americans age 65+ fall each year, and falls are the leading cause of injury-related death in this population. Based on 2020 data, the total health care cost of non-fatal older adult falls is $80 billion per year, up from $50 billion in 2015.  

NCOA is a national leader in falls prevention, as the organization seeks to create the conditions for all to age well today and into the future. In 2025, Falls Prevention Awareness Week reached a total of 17 million people across 41 states. NCOA’s 2025 National Falls Prevention Action Plan provides a blueprint with six key goals aimed at reducing the growing number of falls and fall-related injuries among older adults. The system-wide plan is a key element of NCOA’s drive toward 100 million happier, healthier birthdays by 2040. 

While Falls Prevention Awareness Week is a great time to learn about falls prevention, NCOA supports older adults, families, and professionals to take steps to reduce their risk all year long. NCOA experts are available for interviews about this important topic for America’s growing older adult population.  

For more information about falls prevention, visit www.ncoa.org/FallsPrevention. 

About NCOA
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is the national voice for every person’s right to age well. Working with thousands of national and local partners, we provide resources, best practices, and advocacy to create the conditions for all to age well today and into the future. Founded in 1950, we are the oldest national organization focused on older adults. Learn more by following us at @NCOAging. 

Photo by Sam Wasson/Getty Images for NCOA