Evidence-based Fall Prevention Programs are shown to decrease fall risk significantly while being very cost effective. These community-based exercise and fall prevention programs address multiple risk factors including improving safety in the home and community, strengthening and balance activities, and recommendations for medical and visual screenings as well as medication reviews to address any risk factors that place an individual at risk for falling. For more information about community fall prevention programs please contact your local public health department, hospital outpatient and community programs, senior centers, or Area Agencies on Aging.
A Matter of Balance
A Matter of Balance is an 8-week structured group intervention that emphasizes practical strategies to reduce fear of falling and increase activity levels. Participants learn to view falls and fear of falling as controllable, set realistic goals to increase activity, change their environment to reduce fall risk factors, and exercise to increase strength and balance.
A Matter of Balance is an 8-week structured group intervention that emphasizes practical strategies to reduce fear of falling and increase activity levels. Participants learn to view falls and fear of falling as controllable, set realistic goals to increase activity, change their environment to reduce fall risk factors, and exercise to increase strength and balance.
- 97 percent participants feel comfortable about their fear of falling
- 99 percent participants plan to continue exercising
- $938 savings per participant
The Otago Exercise Program
The Otago Exercise Program is a series of 17 strength and balance exercises delivered by a Physical Therapist in the home that reduces falls between 35 and 40% for frail older adults. This individualized evidence-based program calls for Physical Therapists to assess, coach and progress patients over the course of six months to one year.
The Otago Exercise Program is a series of 17 strength and balance exercises delivered by a Physical Therapist in the home that reduces falls between 35 and 40% for frail older adults. This individualized evidence-based program calls for Physical Therapists to assess, coach and progress patients over the course of six months to one year.
- 35 percent reduction in falls rate
- $429 net benefit per participant
Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balanceₜ™
Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance™ is an evidence-based falls prevention program delivered in two one-hour sessions each week for 24 weeks. Each session consists of warm-up exercises; core practices, which include a mix of practice of forms, variations of forms, and mini-therapeutic movements; and brief cool-down exercises.
Tai Chi: Moving for Better Balance™ is an evidence-based falls prevention program delivered in two one-hour sessions each week for 24 weeks. Each session consists of warm-up exercises; core practices, which include a mix of practice of forms, variations of forms, and mini-therapeutic movements; and brief cool-down exercises.
- 55 percent reduction in falls rate
- $530 net benefit per participant
Stepping On
Stepping On is a seven weeks program that offers community-dwelling older adults proven strategies to reduce falls and increase self-confidence. About 30% of older people who fall lose their self-confidence and start to go out less often. Inactivity leads to social isolation and loss of muscle strength and balance, increasing the risk of falling. Stepping On aims to break that cycle, engaging people in a range of relevant falls prevention strategies.
Stepping On is a seven weeks program that offers community-dwelling older adults proven strategies to reduce falls and increase self-confidence. About 30% of older people who fall lose their self-confidence and start to go out less often. Inactivity leads to social isolation and loss of muscle strength and balance, increasing the risk of falling. Stepping On aims to break that cycle, engaging people in a range of relevant falls prevention strategies.
- 30 percent reduction in falls rate
- $134 net benefit per participant
Information on Evidence-based Fall Prevention Programs can be obtained here.