preventing falls in your communityMinnesota Falls Prevention Initiative
Falls and fall-related injuries among adults over age 65 are an emerging and largely unrecognized public health problem. The increasing incidence of falls among older adults and the mortality related to those falls is anticipated to grow as the population ages. Currently Minnesota ranks fourth highest among states in mortality rates related to falls and Minnesota’s rate of falls among the elderly is increasing at a faster rate than the rest of the country.
In response to this serious public health concern, the Minnesota Board on Aging and the Minnesota Departments of Health and Human Services are partnering with numerous public and private organizations to undertake a statewide coordinated evidence-based falls prevention initiative.
Our vision is that older Minnesotans will have fewer falls and fall-related injuries, maximizing their independence and quality of life.
We can take steps to reduce falls and fall-related injuries among older adults in Minnesota. The Minnesota Falls Prevention website is a first step in assisting older adults and professionals understand the factors that put an older adult at risk of falling and identify actions an older adult can take to remain independent.
Call to Action
Let's keep Minnesotans right side up.
Fall Prevention Day was September 23
Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty declared the first day of fall, Sept. 23, as Fall Prevention Day. In his proclamation, Pawlenty says that falls are the leading cause of injury deaths among people over the age of 65. By increasing the awareness of falls in Minnesota’s older citizens, it is hoped that the rate of falls can be reduced and that the number of injuries and their severity can be greatly improved. Read the Proclamation.Fatal Missteps
More older Minnesotans are dying from falls, but physicians and other experts have sure-footed advice on how to reverse that trend. Read the recent article in Minnesota Medicine. Fatal Missteps.
The Minnesota Falls Prevention Listserv is a vehicle for sharing information related to the Minnesota Falls Prevention Initiative. Subscribe to the listserv
This project was supported by a grant, number 90AM3029, from the Administration on Aging, Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, D.C. 20201, and the Minnesota Board on Aging, St. Paul, MN 55164. Grantees undertaking projects under government sponsorship are encouraged to express freely their findings and conclusions. Points of view or opinions do not, therefore, necessarily represent official Administration on Aging or Minnesota Board on Aging policy.