Every 11 seconds an older adult is injured by a fall. Every 19 minutes an older adult dies from a fall. Falls are the No. 1 cause of injury and death from injury among older adults. Falls are common, costly, and often preventable. They impair physical functioning and quality of life, and often result in physical decline, depression, and social isolation. Since the older adult population is projected to increase by 55% between 2015 and 2030, projected fall rates and health care spending will also soar.

Evidence-based fall prevention programs offer cost-effective interventions that reduce falls and/or reduce or eliminate risk factors, promote behavior change, and leverage community networks to link clinical treatment and community services. The potential for reducing falls and averting the associated direct medical costs is striking.

Read NCOA's 2019 issue brief outlining the rationale for at least $14 million in funding for falls prevention in FY20.