Fall Prevention Month is a campaign that encourages Canadian organizations and individuals to come together to coordinate fall prevention efforts for a larger impact. Organizations are participating by planning activities and sharing evidence-based information on fall prevention. Older adults are a vital part of families and communities. Falling can lead to depression, mobility problems, loss of independence and death.
Key Statistics in Canada
- Falls are the leading cause of injury among older adults
- 95% of all hip fractures are due to a fall
- Falls in older adults account for $3.4 billion in direct health care costs annually
- Over 1/3 of older adults will be admitted to long-term care after hospitalization for a fall
- 50% of all falls causing hospitalization happen at home
- Falls can result in chronic pain, reduced mobility, loss of independence and even death.
- The average older adult stays in hospital 10 days longer for falls than for any other cause.
Falls in older adults are predictable and preventable.
There are many organizations and individuals working hard to increase awareness of the issue and encourage action to prevent falls and injuries from falls.
The Partners for Fall Prevention Month are a group of 11 dedicated organizations with an interest in injury prevention. The Partners lead the planning of the Fall Prevention Month campaign and develop the Toolkit for other organizations to use.
The Partners for 2017 are:
- Canadian Patient Safety Institute
- Fall Prevention Community of Practice
- Finding Balance Ontario
- Ontario Injury Prevention Resource Centre
- Ontario Neurotrauma Foundation
- Osteoporosis Canada
- Parachute
- Public Health Agency of Canada
- Saskatoon Health Region
- Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario
- Toronto Rehabilitation Institute – University Health Network
The Fall Prevention Month website includes a Toolkit of resources to help organizations successfully organize fall prevention initiatives for November. The Toolkit also includes information specifically for older adults on general fall prevention, healthy eating and staying active, medications, preventing falls at home, what to do if you have a fall, and more.
It takes a community to prevent a fall.
