Page 7 - Preventing Falls: How to Develop Community-based Fall Prevention Programs for Older Adults

Chapter 1. Introduction

CHAPTER 1

Introduction

Falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries
among adults 65 and older and 10,000 people in the United
States turn 65 every day. Community-based organizations
(CBOs) play an important role in promoting the health and
well-being of the residents in their community. Many of
the services provided by CBOs like yours help people of all
ages maintain healthy lifestyles and improve their quality
of life. This includes expanding efforts to reduce falls among
older adults.
CBOs who want to prevent falls recognize that they must
offer effective evidence-based fall prevention programs.
However, choosing a fall prevention program that is
appropriate for clients, readily available with training and
tools in place, and affordable can be a daunting task.
The purpose of this guide is to provide information to help
CBOs choose and implement evidence-based fall prevention
programs based on their organization’s goals and clients’
needs. It also describes the organizational resources and
partners needed to support and sustain the program.
This guide addresses questions that are important to CBOs
when implementing fall prevention programs such as:
• How do we find a fall prevention program that best meets
the needs of our clients?

• How can we know that this program works and will achieve
the desired results?
• What resources will be needed to support it?
• What partners should we consider to help us offer
the program?

• How can we support and sustain the program into
the future?

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