Falls Prevention Week
September 22-26, 2025
This simple, 13-question, digital assessment that provides older adults with a personalized "falls risk" score and related guidance for reducing their risk of falling.
National Council on Aging Resources
-
6 Steps to Help Prevent Falls in Older Adults
Every 11 seconds, an older adult is treated in the emergency room for a fall.
Many people think, “It won’t happen to me.” But the truth is that more than one in four older adults falls every year in the U.S.
-
Get the Facts on Falls Prevention
One in four Americans age 65+ falls each year.
The financial toll for older adult falls is expected to increase as the population ages. In 2020, non-fatal older adult falls totaled about $80 billion in health care costs.
Falls can be prevented. NCOA’s Falls Prevention Resource Center and the Falls Free® Initiative promote effective falls prevention strategies for older adults.
-
Falls Prevention Awareness Week Impact Reports
Each year, on the first day of fall, the National Council on Aging and its Falls Free® Initiative turns a spotlight on falls prevention among older adults.
Falls Prevention Awareness Week reaches millions of older adults across the country with a simple message: You can take steps to prevent a fall.
See the impact of falls prevention campaigns across the country.
-
Bone Health and Falls Prevention
Osteoporosis causes bones to be weak where an accident, such as a fall, can fracture the bones. But it is never too late to identify and treat osteoporosis or prevent falls to avoid broken bones. Share the American Bone Health Fracture Risk Calculator with older adults you serve so they can better understand their bone health. And share the Bone Health Discussion Guide we developed with funding from Amgen.
Fracture Risk Calculator
Better Bone Health: A Discussion Guide -
Make Your Home Safe: 5 Easy Ways to Avoid Falls at Home
Common household hazards can lead to preventable falls.
Removing clutter and throw rugs, having good lighting throughout the home, and storing commonly used items within reach are a few of the easy ways to keep safe at home.
View the PDF tips -
Talk to Your Family and Friends: 5 Ways to Prevent Falls Together
Family and friends are some of your strongest allies in maintaining independence and avoiding falls.
Not sure how to start? These 5 tips can help.
-
Care for Your Vision and Hearing: 5 Ways to Lower Falls Risk
Taking care of your eyes and ears can help lower your risk for falls.
Get a yearly eye exam, wear your prescribed glasses but don't wear sunglasses inside, be safe with bifocals, check for hearing changes, and use good lighting throughout your home.
View the PDF tips -
Find an Exercise or Balance Program: 5 Ways to Protect Yourself from a Fall
Improving strength and balance can help protect you from a fall.
Your local senior center and area agency on aging can help connect you to an exercise program near you.
View the PDF tips
-
6 steps to prevent a fall: Promotional materials
Information from the widely used 6 Steps to Prevent a Fall framework is available to share via handouts, slide decks, and videos. Use the resources below to help older adults you serve understand how they can take action to prevent falls.
View the Video -
Talk to Your Doctor: 6 Tips to Help Inform Your Conversation About Falls
Only half of older adults tell their doctor about a fall or a fear of falling.
These tips can help you get the most out of an important conversation with your doctor about falls prevention.
-
Review Medications with Your Doctor or Pharmacist: 5 Tips for Falls Prevention Success
As we age, we're more likely to experience medication side effects that can increase our chances of falling.
Regular medication reviews with your doctor or pharmacist are important to reducing your falls risk.
View the PDF tips
Source: National Council on Aging