Improving Local Service Delivery to Prevent Falls in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: Translating Research to Practice

Unintentional falls are the leading cause of both fatal and nonfatal injuries among Americans 65 years of age and older and place an enormous burden on the health care system. As the population continues to age, preventing falls will be increasingly important for reducing morbidity, mortality, and medical costs. Evidence-based fall prevention interventions for older adults exist, but widespread adoption of these interventions is needed. Local health departments, Area Agencies on Aging, first responders, and health care professionals can all play important roles in implementing fall prevention programs. This article presents a conceptual model for local delivery of fall prevention programs for community-dwelling older adults. This model can serve as a guide for translating existing fall prevention research into practice.

Automated summary

Unintentional falls are the leading cause of fatal and nonfatal injuries among Americans aged 65 and older, imposing a significant burden on the healthcare system. As the population continues to age, preventing falls becomes increasingly crucial for reducing morbidity, mortality, and medical costs. Evidence-based fall prevention interventions for older adults exist, but require widespread adoption, with local health departments, Area Agencies on Aging, first responders, and healthcare professionals playing important roles in implementation. A conceptual model for delivering fall prevention programs for community-dwelling older adults is presented in this article, serving as a guide for translating existing research into practice.