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Annual Falls Prevention Awareness Week spotlights simple steps to stay safe

Arlington, VA (Sept. 5, 2023) — The National Council on Aging (NCOA), the national voice for every person’s right to age well, and hundreds of community-based partners across the country will be encouraging older adults to take action to reduce their risk of falling during Falls Prevention Awareness Week, Sept. 18-22.

"Although falls and fall-related injuries happen more frequently with age, the good news is there are many proactive steps older adults and their families can take to prevent them," said Kathleen Cameron, Senior Director at NCOA’s Center for Healthy Aging. “A great place to start is using NCOA’s free online Falls Free CheckUp™ to learn your risk and discover how to reduce it.”

Falls are the leading cause of injury-related death among adults age 65 and older. NCOA has championed this annual event since 2007 to highlight the impact of falls and empower individuals with actionable measures to mitigate their risk.

During Falls Prevention Awareness Week, community organizations and health care providers nationwide will offer workshops, screenings, and evidence-based falls prevention programs. Local organizations will use promotional resources to amplify their outreach.

NCOA’s online Falls Free CheckUp, developed in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), asks 13 yes/no questions and produces a score showing whether a person is at normal or high risk for a fall. The assessment delivers tailored recommendations and offers a wealth of falls prevention resources. Participants can also opt for reminders to schedule follow-up doctor appointments and retake the checkup in six months to monitor any changes in their risk.

According to the CDC, more than one-fourth of Americans age 65+ fall each year. Falls result in more than 3 million injuries, such as hip fractures, broken bones, and brain injuries, treated in emergency departments annually, including over 800,000 hospitalizations.

For more information, please visit www.ncoa.org/Falls.

About NCOA
The National Council on Aging (NCOA) is the national voice for every person’s right to age well. We believe that how we age should not be determined by gender, color, sexuality, income, or ZIP code. Working with thousands of national and local partners, we provide resources, tools, best practices, and advocacy to ensure every person can age with health and financial security. Founded in 1950, we are the oldest national organization focused on older adults. Learn more at www.ncoa.org and @NCOAging.