Every September, the Falls Free® Initiative promotes National Falls Prevention Awareness Week, a week to highlight falls prevention education and screening activities that raise awareness about the impact of falls among older adults. As part of this effort, NCOA launched a photo contest, where entries that were submitted would be judged on their depiction of older adults participating in falls prevention programs around the country.

As an outcome of the contest each year, all winning photo entries can be used by organizations to help promote falls prevention activities within their marketing materials.

If your organization plans on utilizing any of the winning entries, please attribute any use of the photos or stories on this webpage to NCOA Falls Free® Photo Contest and be sure to insert the year. To download each photo, right click on the image and open in a new tab on your browser.

Congratulations to the 2019 Falls Free® Photo Contest Winners

More than 80 photos were submitted to the 2019 Falls Free® Photo Contest. Many thanks to everyone who submitted entries and to our judges.

First Place - Yoga for Balance

Organization: Eskaton Village Carmichael, Sacramento, CA 

Program/Event/Activity: Falls Prevention Awarness Week - Yoga for Balance

Second Place - Enhance Fitness

Organization: Baltimore County Department of Aging (BCDA), Baltimore, MD

Program/Event/Activity: Enhance Fitness

Third Place - Tai Chi

Organization: Dickinson Hall-Lake Forest Lake Bluff Senior Center, Lake Forest, IL

Program/Event/Activity: Tai Chi

Honorable Mention - Discover Your Balance, Tai Chi Demo

Organization: Platte County Community Center South YMCA, Kansas City, MO

Program/Event/Activity: Discover Your Balance Fall Prevention Health Fair; Tai Chi Demo

Honorable Mention - Growing Strong

Organization: Kenai Senior Center, Kenai, AK

Program/Event/Activity: Growing Strong Class that meets for one hour every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The program is based on the StrongWomen Program and is a series of exercises essential to staying strong and vital. Not only does feeling physically strong promote mental and emotional health, but it also helps to prevent osteoporosis and frailty by stimulating muscle growth.

Honorable Mention - Safety Overhead Harness System

Organization: FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers of Oklahoma City

Program/Event/Activity: Walking with head rotation and postural stability reminder in Safety Overhead Harness System for falls prevention.

Congratulations to the 2018 Falls Free® Photo Contest Winners

101 photos were submitted to the 2018 Falls Free® Photo Contest. Many thanks to everyone who submitted entries and to our judges. 

First Place - Moving for Better Balance®

Organization: Wallingford Community Senior Center, Seattle, WA

Program/Event/Activity: Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance® Class

Second Place - Tai Chi

Organization: Southern Maine Agency on Aging, Scarborough, ME

Program/Event/Activity: Tai Chi for Arthritis Program

Third Place - EnhanceFitness

Organization: YMCA SWM BHJS Branch, Saint Joseph, MI

Program/Event/Activity: EnhanceFitness Program

Honorable Mention - Advanced Balance Exercise Class

Organization: Shaker Pointe at Carondelet, Watervliet, NY

Program/Event/Activity: Line Passing in the Advanced Balance Exercise Class from the FallProof Program

Honorable Mention - Tai Chi for Arthritis

Organization: High Country Area Agency on Aging, Boone, NC

Program/Event/Activity: Tai Chi for Arthritis and Falls Prevention Program

International Entry Honorable Mention - Race for Doctors

Organization: Falls Institute of India, Nagpur, Maharashtra

Program/Event/Activity: The Falls Institute of India organized a race for doctors in gerontology who diagnose and treat diseases that may lead to a fall.

Congratulations to the 2017 Falls Free® Photo Contest Winners

First Place - One Foot Forward

 Organization: Asbury Harris Epworth Towers/Wesley Woods Senior Living; Atlanta, GA 

Program/Event/Activity: "One Foot Forward" What doesn’t kill us will make us stronger! That’s the motto of older adults in this falls prevention class. Stronger means stronger arms, legs, and knees—and learning how to take control of their bodies by how they think, how they move, and how they react.

“In our class, we are ‘smoothing’ and ‘grooving’ while learning how to stoop, bend, and balance” says Mary Byrd, Life Enrichment Director. “Falls prevention classes are essential to help promote an injury-free life. So we have gotten off the couch, laced up our tennis shoes, and started moving to the beat.” Participants want to keep moving with their hips and legs, so they “sashay” around their chairs, walk like they’re on a balance beam, then yell: “I GOT THIS!” “We will not allow a fall to creep up and cripple us for life … no, not US!” Byrd says. “So, come what may, we’re preparing to tackle it every day.”

Second Place

Organization: Cobb County Government; Marietta, GA
Program/Event/Activity:"Pop Up Tai Chi" You might have heard of the “pop up” restaurant trend, but what about Pop Up Tai Chi? Cobb County Government in Marietta, GA, used this free and innovative idea to break down barriers around exercise and the generations. On August 14^th, 80 members of the community gathered at Hyde Farm Park on a beautiful sunny morning. Their goal? To promote a falls prevention method that is easily adaptable and accessible to everyone. A certified Tai Chi instructor led the group through a 40 minute demonstration that was energizing for all ages. “This program broke the boundaries on what aging should look like,” says Tara Vroman, Fitness Education Specialist. “The average age was above 55, but we had community members of all ages. A young mother and her daughter even signed up, and they were taken aback by the sheer mass and active ability of the aging community surrounding them.” Pop Up Tai Chi opened the door for intergenerational physical activity to promote a healthy community for all residents of Cobb County.

Third Place

Organization: Blount County Office on Aging; Maryville, TN
Program/Event/Activity:"SAILing to Safety" There once were some old folks most weary That even themselves couldn’t carry But to see them all now You would have to say “Wow!” Thanks to Thelma, Juli, and Terri These folks who once seemed so frail Are now more hardy and hail They can stretch and can breathe Leg and hand weights they heave After joining a class called S.A.I.L. S.A.I.L. = Stay Active and Independent for Life

Honorable Mention

Organization: Lourie Senior Center; Columbia, SC

Program/Event/Activity: "Tai Chi for Arthritis and Falls Prevention" A local news reporter showed up to cover this Tai Chi program, sponsored by Palmetto Health Richland Trauma Center at the Lourie Senior Center.  A certified Tai Chi instructor led 27 participants through the 12-week program designed to improve cardiovascular fitness, stamina, and muscular strength, which in turn helps to prevent falls and improve flexibility and balance. “We administered two assessments before and after the session,” said Nichole Kent Spivey, MBA, Palmetto Health Injury Prevention Coordinator. “Therapy staff conducted the REACH and Chair Stand Test among the participants, and the results showed a significant improvement in their balance and strength.” After the class ended, every participant received a Tai Chi instructional DVD and a certificate of completion.

Congratulations to the 2016 Falls Free® Photo Contest Winners

First Place

 Organization: Eskaton; Carmichael, CA

Second Place

 Organization: Emerald Ridge Rehabilitation and Care Center; Asheville, NC

Third Place

Organization: Chinese American Service League; Chicago, IL

Honorable Mention

Organization: Community First Solutions; Hamilton, OH

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Honorable Mention

Organization: The Hearth at Gardenside; Branford, CT

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Honorable Mention

Organization: Emerald Ridge Rehabilitation and Care Center; Asheville, NC

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Congratulations to the 2015 Falls Free® Photo Contest Winners

First Place

 Organization: Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services; Walnut Creek, CA

 

Second Place

Organization: St George Senior Citizens Center; St. George, Utah

 

Third Place

Organization: The Hearth At Franklin; Franklin, TN

 

Honorable Mention

Organization: The Seasons Club at McKee Medical Center; Loveland, CO

 

Honorable Mention

Organization: Partners in Care Foundation; San Fernando, CA

 

Honorable Mention

Organization: First Baptist Church of Glenarden; Landover, Maryland

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