September 08, 2022

DHS observes Falls Prevention Awareness Week in September

Each year for Falls Prevention Awareness Week, educators, caregivers, health and aging professionals, and older adults across the country focus their efforts on preventing falls. That’s why the Georgia Department of Human Services is partnering with state and national organizations to celebrate Falls Prevention Awareness Week, Sept. 19-23.   

Georgia’s Falls Prevention Coalition includes the Georgia Department of Public Health, Emory University’s Injury Prevention Research Center of Excellence, and members of the Georgia Falls Prevention Coalition and Task Force, with guidance from the National Council on Aging. Check your risk for falling with the National Council on Aging’s Falls Free CheckUp here.  

Every Friday this month, Georgia’s Falls Prevention Coalition is hosting Falls Free Friday webinars. Partners throughout the state will also host local events to boost falls prevention in their local communities. The upcoming Falls Free webinars include: 

  • September 9: Tai Chi demonstration. Register here.  

  • September 16: Bingocize! Demonstration. Register here.  

  • September 23: It’s all connected: vision, hearing, blood pressure, brain health, and fall risk. Register here.  

  • September 30: Self-advocacy and falls prevention with Dr. David Taylor. Register here.  

Falls are a leading cause of injury for people aged 65 and older. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one-fourth of Americans aged 65 and older fall each year. Falls have also resulted in over three million injuries treated in emergency departments annually, including 800,000 hospitalizations and 32,000 deaths. However, falls are not an inevitable part of aging. You can prevent falls and lower the risk for yourself and your loved ones. DHS, Area Agencies on Aging, and partners across the state have embraced innovative programs like: 

  • A Matter of Balance – a small group workshop that offers strategies to help participants increase activity levels and reduce fear of falling 

  • Tai Chi for Health and Balance – an exercise program that improves balance and muscle tone while increasing participants’ confidence in their physical function 

  • Bingocize – a fun, structured group activity using traditional bingo boards or an app, that combines health facts and simple fitness moves 

Visit georgiahealthmatters.org/workshops/fall-prevention/ to learn more about the options available in your community . Explore more ways to prevent falls and assess your or a loved one’s risk by visiting the National Council on Aging. Together, we can reduce falls and increase safety for all Georgians. 

For more information about falls prevention, email [email protected].

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