Fall Prevention Nature Walk: Addressing Falls Prevention Across the Lifespan
Abstract
Georgia Department of Public Health Injury Prevention Program (IPP) engages in robust state-based data and surveillance, strengthening strategic collaborations and partnerships, conducting assessments, and monitoring the effectiveness of evidence-based community programs. IPP is motivated to reduce risk factors for falls through a lens of shared risk and protective factors. By leveraging partnerships and resources we have developed an evidence-based fall prevention program that plays an important role in promoting health and well-being across the lifespan.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide. In the United States, 28% of adults aged 65 and older report falling each year, resulting in approximately 36 million falls and 8 million fall related injuries each year. In Georgia, approximately 30.2% of adults aged 65 and older report falling each year. Despite the impact falls have on our communities, IPP acknowledges that falls are not an inevitable part of aging. Our approach to alleviate the problem is to support community-based efforts through the implementation of a Fall Prevention Nature Walk. This innovative approach derives from the Let’s Move Libraries StoryWalk® campaign used to promote literacy, reading, health, exercise, and movement in library settings across the U.S.
The Fall Prevention Nature Walk engages participants (at every stage of life), through informational boards that incorporate evidence-based national resources, self-assessments, checklists, and community resources connected to fall risk and fall prevention. Twenty-four informational boards constitute a full set, and topics include self-advocacy, brain health, and age-appropriate exercise. The boards will be installed along paved paths in nature settings to promote movement and positive behavior changes.
After the poster presentation from Georgia Department of Public Health Injury Prevention Program, attendees/learners will be able to identify risk factors for falls, discuss prevention strategies, and engage with local resources.
Keywords
Fall Prevention, Falls Prevention, Fall Risk, Traumatic Brain Injury, Brain Health, Older Adult, Home Safety
Fall Prevention Nature Walk: Addressing Falls Prevention Across the Lifespan
Georgia Department of Public Health Injury Prevention Program (IPP) engages in robust state-based data and surveillance, strengthening strategic collaborations and partnerships, conducting assessments, and monitoring the effectiveness of evidence-based community programs. IPP is motivated to reduce risk factors for falls through a lens of shared risk and protective factors. By leveraging partnerships and resources we have developed an evidence-based fall prevention program that plays an important role in promoting health and well-being across the lifespan.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, falls are the second leading cause of unintentional injury deaths worldwide. In the United States, 28% of adults aged 65 and older report falling each year, resulting in approximately 36 million falls and 8 million fall related injuries each year. In Georgia, approximately 30.2% of adults aged 65 and older report falling each year. Despite the impact falls have on our communities, IPP acknowledges that falls are not an inevitable part of aging. Our approach to alleviate the problem is to support community-based efforts through the implementation of a Fall Prevention Nature Walk. This innovative approach derives from the Let’s Move Libraries StoryWalk® campaign used to promote literacy, reading, health, exercise, and movement in library settings across the U.S.
The Fall Prevention Nature Walk engages participants (at every stage of life), through informational boards that incorporate evidence-based national resources, self-assessments, checklists, and community resources connected to fall risk and fall prevention. Twenty-four informational boards constitute a full set, and topics include self-advocacy, brain health, and age-appropriate exercise. The boards will be installed along paved paths in nature settings to promote movement and positive behavior changes.
After the poster presentation from Georgia Department of Public Health Injury Prevention Program, attendees/learners will be able to identify risk factors for falls, discuss prevention strategies, and engage with local resources.
