Email - Resolve to make 2013 a Falls Free© year!

Having trouble viewing this e-mail? View it online.

January 2013

Resolve to make 2013 a Falls Free© year!

If statistics continue, in 2013, emergency departments will treat more than 2.3 million fall injuries, and more than 20,000 people will die as a result of a fall. We're committed to reducing those numbers—and you can help! Tell us just one thing you resolve to do in 2013 to reduce falls among older adults. Share your resolution on our Facebook page, and we’ll spread the word!
Tell us your 2013 Falls Free© resolution

Elderly injury prevention provider website now live

The Centers for Disease Control has launched the STEADI (Stopping Elderly Accidents, Deaths and Injuries) website. Visit today to pre-order a copy of the health care provider-focused STEADI Toolkit, download toolkit materials, view instructional videos, and more.
Visit the site now

Medication safety for seniors

Here are two new resources to help older adults manage their medications safely. First, join us Feb. 28 for a free webinar on HomeMeds, an evidence-based medication safety intervention. Second, check out the American Geriatrics Society’s newly updated Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults—plus their new consumer-based tools.
Register for the webinar | See the new Beers Criteria | Get consumer tools

Prevention & Public Health Fund still surviving budget process

The “fiscal cliff” deal enacted earlier this month spared cuts to the Prevention & Public Health Fund—at least for now. Thanks to everyone who sent letters to Congress. The Senate is still calling for $10 million from the fund for falls prevention efforts. Last year, this was cut in final budget negotiations with the House, so we still need your advocacy! Consider inviting your lawmakers to see your programs in action, and urge your participants to send letters describing what the programs mean to them.
Read more about the fiscal cliff deal | Find your legislators’ contact info

FPAD 2012: 40% increase in reach over 2011

This is just one impressive statistic from Falls Prevention Awareness Day 2012. Read our summary of the activities and programs offered last year. Then start planning for 2013!
Read the 2012 FPAD report | Learn more about FPAD

State Policy Toolkit proves popular

The Falls Free© State Policy Toolkit for Advancing Falls Prevention is proving very popular. It offers a rich compendium of suggested policy changes to advance falls prevention, categorized under eight major goals. Please share what policy or systems change you may be working on!
Download the toolkit | Tell us about your policy work

What’s happening in the states?

The Maryland Falls Prevention Advisory Group has released a new falls protocol for home safety inspections for seniors transitioning home from a fall-related hospitalization.
The Arizona campus of A.T. Still University has trained 46 physical therapy, occupational therapy, audiology, and athletic training students to offer A Matter of Balance in English, Spanish, and American Sign Language. The university and supervising faculty are members of the Arizona Falls Prevention Coalition.

Check out these new resources …

BONE Sense on Vitamin D is a new resource from American Bone Health.
Treatment to Prevent Fractures in Men and Women with Low Bone Density or Osteoporosis is a new set of patient and clinician resources from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
Breaking the Fall: Community Injury Prevention Strategies for Older Adults was an informative webinar featuring two falls prevention leaders in New York.
January is Glaucoma Awareness Month. Help raise awareness among those at higher risk.

What’s new in research?

Untreated hearing loss led to a three times greater likelihood of falls, according to a study from Johns Hopkins.
Fear of falling may cause social isolation in older adults with vision problems, according to a study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science.

Training opportunities

A Matter of Balance: Master trainer sessions will be held May 1-2 in Portland, ME and June 4-5 in Charlotte, NC.
Stepping On: Leader training will be offered throughout 2013 from the Wisconsin Institute for Healthy Aging.
Otago Exercise Program: Online training of physical therapists with CEUs will be available in the spring of 2013. Join the online Otago Falls Prevention Exercise Program Forum for details and resources.

Falls Free^© E-News is published by NCOA’s Center for Healthy Aging and the Falls Free^© Initiative. Submissions are welcome and should be sent to fallsfree@ncoa.org.

The Falls Free^© Initiative is a group of national organizations and state coalitions working to reduce the growing number of falls and fall-related injuries among older adults.

1901 L Street, NW, 4th Floor, Washington, DC 20036 202.479.1200

© 2013 National Council on Aging, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited. National Council on Aging (NCOA) copyright materials may not be reproduced in whole or in part by persons, organizations, or corporations other than NCOA, its affiliates, divisions, and units without the prior written permission of an authorized officer of NCOA. For permission, please contact newsletters@ncoa.org.

Subscribe | Unsubscribe | Forward to a Friend

The National Council on Aging is a nonprofit service and advocacy organization headquartered in Washington, DC. NCOA is a national voice for older Americans—especially those who are vulnerable and disadvantaged—and the community organizations that serve them. It brings together nonprofit organizations, businesses, and government to develop creative solutions that improve the lives of all older adults. NCOA works with thousands of organizations across the country to help seniors find jobs and benefits, improve their health, live independently, and remain active in their communities. For more information, visit www.ncoa.org.