Falls Prevention Grants for Community Programs

When the Older American Reauthorization Act of 2016 was signed into law in June it added falls prevention services to make it explicit that U.S. Department of Health and Human Services grants could fund these types of programs.

Since 2014 Administration for Community Living (ACL) has awarded more than $8 million inPrevention and Public Health Funds to the Evidence-Based Falls Prevention Programs and also funded a National Falls Prevention Resource Center.

One goal in funding falls prevention programs is to significantly increase the number of older at-risk adults and adults with disabilities in community health programs that reduce falls and fall risks.

Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley, Mass., received about $570,000 in ACL grants for its evidence-based falls prevention program. The agency plans to create integrated, sustainable evidence based prevention program networks through existing regional collaboratives. They will offer Matter of Balance, an eight session community-based workshop designed to reduce the fear of falling and increase activity levels and Tai Ji Quan, a research-based balance training regimen. In the program’s second year, they could add Otago, a tailored muscle strengthening and walking program for adults living at home.

The goal is to enroll 1,900 in the programs and train 60 new falls prevention program leaders throughout the state. Currently, free workshops are being advertised throughout September and October, such as at the series being held at the Greenfield, Mass., Senior Center. Attendees will “reduce their fear of falling while increasing their activity level and independence, improving balance, and increasing flexibility and strength” on Wednesdays through October 26th, according to The Recorder.