{"id":2144,"date":"2021-11-22T21:29:36","date_gmt":"2021-11-22T21:29:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gaitbetter.com\/?p=2144"},"modified":"2025-07-28T10:56:19","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T10:56:19","slug":"benefits-of-fall-prevention-programs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gaitbetter.com\/it\/benefits-of-fall-prevention-programs\/","title":{"rendered":"Benefits of fall prevention programs"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

<\/p>

The risk and consequences of falls in older adults are staggering. More than\u00a01 out of 4<\/a>\u00a0older adults fall every year (36 million!<\/a>), and this rate increases to 1 out of 3 for residents in senior living and\u00a03 out of 4 adults<\/a>\u00a0in nursing homes.\u00a0<\/p>

While\u00a034000 older adults<\/a>\u00a0die immediately due to falls every year, the longer-term impact is far greater. In\u00a01 out of 5 falls<\/a>, the elder person experiences a serious injury, such as a fracture or traumatic brain injury. After a serious injury, 25% of older adults will require a higher level of care (independent to assisted living, assisted living to skilled nursing, etc.) and\u00a025% will die within six months<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>

This results in a significant fear of falling (FOF) among older adults.\u00a0Almost 50%<\/a>\u00a0of older adults limit their activity because of a fear of falling and adults over 65 typically identify falling as their\u00a0greatest fear by a wide margin<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>

All of this leads to loss of physical activity, increased loneliness, accelerated cognitive decline, and higher risk of cancer, heart disease, and dementia.\u00a0<\/p>

The good news is that falls in older adults are avoidable and do not have to be an inevitable part of aging. There are ways of keeping older adults on their feet and avoiding the risk of falls. With the right preventative measures in place the benefits of fall prevention programs can be profound.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

What is a fall prevention program?<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>

A falls prevention program is defined as:<\/p>

An evidence-based program that systematically\u00a0<\/i>identifies potential risks<\/i><\/a>\u00a0(environmental, pharmacological, morbidities, etc.) and provides targeted intervention to lower the falls per capita rate within a population.<\/i>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>

Fall prevention programs are typically carried out in locations that are exclusive to older adults (65+), such as senior centers and assisted living facilities and the benefits of fall prevention program can have a drastic impact on your residents including:<\/p>