For years, NCOA has been committed to changing the trajectory of falls-related injuries by helping older adults gain the confidence and skills needed to prevent a fall. This continues to be a priority considering falls are the leading cause of fatal and non-fatal injuries among older adults, leading to serious injuries and increased risk of additional falls.
Every year we spearhead Falls Prevention Awareness Week, an awareness and activation campaign that reaches millions of people. Learn more about the impact of these efforts by reading our reports below.
Falls Prevention Awareness Week 2023 Impact Report
The 16th Annual Falls Prevention Awareness Week was observed by 40 states and reached over 3 million people through education, falls risk screening, advocacy, digital, and traditional media.
NCOA encouraged state falls prevention coalitions and community organizations to engage with community partners in falls prevention activities. Community partners include local libraries, senior centers, faith-based organizations, and other sites that are well-known by older adults. They serve as delivery sites for evidence-based falls prevention programs and help connect older adults to other available services and resources to manage their fall risk factors, demonstrating that falls prevention is truly a team effort.
In 2023, more than 30,000 people completed the Falls Free CheckUp to assess their falls risk and get individualized advice on next steps to prevent falls. Because low bone mass is common and can put people at higher risk for osteoporosis and falls, this year also marked a partnership with Amgen to study a new Bone Health Education program at senior centers across the country.
FPAW participants gave examples of partnerships that helped them reach more older adults with falls prevention education. Those included senior centers, local park districts, fire rescue and local hospitals, places of worship, and nursing students.
This report also includes examples of falls prevention awareness activities that can be replicated for the next observance.
Falls Prevention Awareness Week impact throughout the years
| Year | Summary |
|---|---|
| 2022, Falls Prevention Awareness Week |
The 15th Annual Falls Prevention Awareness Week engaged partners in 48 states and saw the launch of the newly designed Falls Free CheckUp providing customized resources and next steps to help individuals prevent falls. More than 31,000 people use the Falls Free CheckUp to understand their falls risk. |
| 2021, Falls Prevention Awareness Week |
The 14th Annual Falls Prevention Awareness Week engaged partners in 44 states, reaching over 314 million people with messages about preventing falls through social media, grassroots education, advocacy and media. NCOA encouraged state falls prevention coalitions and community partners to engage fire and emergency medical services (EMS) in falls prevention efforts and activities. The Falls Free CheckUp continued to be disseminated by partners. |
| 2020, Falls Prevention Awareness Week |
In a year impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, partners in 36 states spread the word to over 370 million about the importance of falls prevention through traditional media, new media, and community outreach. NCOA also launched the Falls Free CheckUp, a digital screening tool modeled after the 12-question screener included in the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries (STEADI) Stay Independent brochure. Over 4,000 users completed the tool and received a copy of their personalized results sent to their email. |
| 2019, Falls Prevention Awareness Day |
The 12th Annual Falls Prevention Awareness Day engaged organizations in 49 states and reached 300 million people with messages about preventing falls through social media, grass roots education, advocacy, and media. |
| 2018, Falls Prevention Awareness Day |
The 11th Annual Falls Prevention Awareness Day was observed by 43 states and the District of Columbia. National awareness and media efforts collectively reached 154.7 million individuals through national, state and local press releases, Twitter, Facebook, and more. At the state and community level, the State Falls Prevention Coalitions members reached 2.5 million individuals through fall risk screenings, participation in community-based falls prevention programs, and public awareness events. |
This project was supported, in part by grant number 90FPSG0051 from the U.S. Administration for Community Living, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration for Community Living policy.
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See if you're at risk for falling.
Falls threaten the safety and independence for older Americans and can create a heavy economic and personal burden. Check to see if you’re at risk of falling with NCOA’s Falls Free CheckUp tool.
