The Pennsylvania Violence and Injury Prevention Program (VIPP) held a Falls Prevention Summit in April 2008. The goals established for the Summit included:
- Provide in-depth state-specific data with regards to the burden of falls.
- Provide programmatic information on current fall prevention strategies.
- Build consensus on the development and evaluation of interventions to reduce fall-related injuries across the lifespan.
- Formulate a plan to update the 2006-2010 Pennsylvania Injury Prevention and Control Plan.
A falls prevention coalition was created as a sub-group of the Injury Community Planning Group (ICPG).
Current goals and objectives for the Pennsylvania Falls Prevention Coalition
- Goals: To work in partnership to help Pennsylvanians optimize their quality of life by reducing falls, risk of falls, and injury from falls.
- Objectives:
- Increase public awareness about falls prevention and fall-related injuries among older adults through education and action
- Serve as a resource for tools and information
- Support evidence-based programs and strategies
Leadership for the Pennsylvania Falls Prevention Coalition
- Pennsylvania Department of Aging
Leadership Contact Information
- Susan Neff
Supervisor, Education & Outreach Office, Pennsylvania Department of Aging
suneff@pa.gov
Key Partners for the Pennsylvania Falls Prevention Coalition
- Pennsylvania Department of Health
- State Trauma Centers’ Injury Prevention Coordinators
- Local Health Departments
- Health Care Providers
- Local Area Agencies on Aging
What has the Pennsylvania Falls Prevention Coalition achieved?
- Contributed to United States Senate Special Committee on Aging 2019 annual report.
- Participation in statewide Falls Prevention Awareness Week events in 2021 and 2022 with press release, television, and social media coverage
What are some current challenges for the Pennsylvania State Falls Prevention Coalition?
- Membership engagement in quarterly calls
- Membership participation in FPAW activities
- Agenda topics
- Lack of funding
What evidence-based falls prevention programs are currently offered by the Pennsylvania State Falls Prevention Coalition?
- AEA Arthritis Foundation Aquatic Program (AFAP)
- AEA Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program (AFEP)
- Healthy Steps for Older Adults
- Healthy Steps in Motion
- Walk with Ease
- A Matter of Balance
- FallScape
- FallsTalk
- On the Move
- Tai Chi for Arthritis and Fall Prevention
- Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance
- Stepping On
What outcomes are monitored by the Pennsylvania Falls Prevention Coalition?
- PDA monitors participants in Title IIID evidence-based falls prevention programs
Learn more on the Pennsylvania Department of Aging's Falls Prevention For Older Adults webpage.
