Falls Prevention Awareness Week is observed on September 18th – September 24th during the first week of fall to increase awareness around falls and injury prevention for older adults. As we age, falling can be particularly dangerous for older adults. However, there are methods of prevention that can reduce the risk of falls and help to prevent injury.
View the top ways to help prevent falls:
- Find a good balance and exercise program. Look to build balance, strength, and flexibility. Contact your local senior center to find a program you like and take a friend!
- Talk to your health care provider. Ask for an assessment of your risk of falling and share your history of recent falls.
- Regularly review your medications with your doctor or pharmacist. Make sure side effects aren’t increasing your risk of falling. Take medications only as prescribed.
- Get your vision and hearing checked annually and update your eyeglasses. Your eyes and ears are key to keeping you on your feet.
- Keep your home safe. Remove tripping hazards, increase lighting, make stairs safe, and install grab bars in key areas.
- Talk to your family members. Enlist your family’s support in taking simple steps to stay safe, falls are not just an older adult issue.
Watch the 6 Steps to Prevent a Fall video:
Tune in for the Falls Prevention Webinar:
Learn about the National Council on Aging‘s new resources and strengthen community connections to maximize your impact for the 2022 observation of Falls Prevention Awareness Week. Guest speakers from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will join to share findings used to re-design the Falls Free Checkup, including dissemination efforts. Learn more
Read more from the National Council on Aging:
Falls Prevention Is a Team Effort
4 Tips to Help You Talk to Older Adults About Preventing Falls
Get Involved
The Connecticut Healthy Living Collective, Connecticut Community Care, National Council on Aging, CT Senior Centers, Local Health Departments and Districts, CT Department of Public Health, CT Department of Aging and Disability Services, CT Area Agencies on Aging and many more are joining the Falls Prevention Awareness Week Campaign to:
- Raise awareness that falls are preventable and older adults can be falls free, AND
- Promote the many high quality evidence-based falls prevention programs offered throughout our state
Learn more about how you can get involved!
