Falls Prevention

 

 

North Carolina has been at the forefront of research and support related to falls prevention efforts and needed consumer information for some time.  The statistics are staggering.  The likelihood of an older adult over 65 falling and having a serious complication is very high.  Women are more at risk than men.  Falls in that age group are the leading cause of injury related deaths in North Carolina.  And, a fall can be the causative factor to nursing home admission.  Fortunately, the good new is that there are steps that every household can take to make the home more safe.

There are also steps that every vulnerable adult can take to lessen his or her risk of a fall.  Education is the first step.

 

 

North Carolina Efforts

In 2003, economists at the Research Triangle Institute in North Carolina worked with the Centers for Disease Control to estimate the direct medical costs of falls among adults ages 65 years and older in the United States.

In 2005, the Injury Control Research Center at the University of North Carolina, assessed the perceived needs for, and barriers to, adopting and implementing Safe Steps, a fall prevention program in senior centers.  With more that 11,500 senior centers nationwide, the implications for widespread dissemination of falls prevention education to high risk consumers were enormous.

Researchers at the University of North Carolina again take the lead in conducting a randomized, controlled clinical trial to evaluate the effectiveness of a fall prevention program delivered by community pharmacists.

In 2007, the Centers for Disease Control developed an interagency agreement with the Administration on Aging providing grant money to 24 states, including North Carolina, to introduce evidence-based disease and disability prevention programs at the community level. In NC, we offer "A Matter of Balance".  This program is being evaluated along with other programs to determine a national strategy for public education on falls prevention.  Once again, NC is taking a leading proactive role in helping form this national initiative and strategy.

 

 

A Matter of Balance Program

As part of the agreement between the Centers for Disease Control and the Administration on Aging, North Carolina received grant funds to offer and evaluate a falls prevention program designed to:

• reduce fear of falling
• increase self efficacy and a sense of control in relation to fall risk
• increase physical and social activity and consequently prevent older adult falls

The program emphasizes practical strategies that boost participants’ strength and balance through specialized exercises and other activities. "Coaches" conduct a series of eight weekly two-hour sessions, after their initial training.

 

 

North Carolina Falls Prevention Coalition

The North Carolina Falls Prevention Coalition works to increase awareness, education, and training, provide tools and resources, and foster linkages between programs and organizations working to reduce falls.

The founding partners of the NC Falls Prevention Coalition are the North Carolina Division of Public Health, North Carolina Division of Aging and Adult Services, the UNC Institute on Aging, and the Carolina Geriatric Education Center. Since its formation in 2008, the Coalition has grown to become a multi-disciplinary, multi-network group comprised of key leaders from over 30 organizations across the state. All are working together to promote safe environments for seniors, healthy living strategies, and public education related to falls prevention.

 

 

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