Fall Prevention

One of the most serious risks that older adults face when they remain in their homes is falling and sustaining a serious injury. According to the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, one of every three people age 65 and older falls each year. Falls are the leading cause of injury deaths among people age 65 and older, and 60 percent of fatal falls occur in the home.

The high risk of falls faced by older adults results from a combination of reduced physical abilities such as vision or coordination or the effects of certain medications, as well as environmental factors. In the home, the risk factors include poor lighting, loose rugs, slippery or uneven surfaces and stairways or steps without banisters or guard rails.

The fall prevention component of the Aging-In-Place Initiative has two parts: community education and training, and direct services to clients. Education activities include sponsoring fall prevention screenings at senior centers and at events where older adults gather, and wide distribution of a pamphlet that helps seniors determine if they are at risk for falls and tells them where they can get help to reduce their risk. Older adults who are concerned about their risk receive a "fall prevention assessment" to help determine how that risk can be reduced. If home repairs or modifications would help reduce the risk of falls, the client is referred to Our House to have the work done on his or her home.