State Coalitions on Fall Prevention Workgroup

In December 2004, the National Council on Aging (NCOA) hosted a National Summit on Fall Prevention.  Read more.

Wisconsin Falls Prevention Initiative

History of the Wisconsin Falls Prevention Initiative.  Read more. 

Self Reported Falls and Falls-Related Injuries Among Persons Aged over 65 Years ---United States, 2006 From the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, March 7, 2008

"Each year, an estimated one third of older adults fall, and the likelihood of falling increases substantially with advancing age.  In 2005, a total of 15,802 persons aged over 65 years died as a result of injuries from falls (1).  However, the number of older adults who fall and are not injured or who sustain minor or moderate injuries and seek treatment in clinics or physician offices is unknown. 

To estimate the percentage of older adults who fell during the preceding three months, CDC analyzed data from the 2006 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (FRFSS) Survey.  This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated that approximately 5.8 million persons ages over 65 years, or 15.9% of all U.S. adults in that age group, fell at least once during the preceding three months, and 1.8 million (31.3%) of those who fell sustained an injury that resulted in a doctor visit or restricted activity for at least 1 day.

Click here to read or download the report:  http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm5709a1.htm?s_cid=mm5709a1_e