Overview: The Falls
Free Coalition

The Falls Free Coalition is a collection of more than 58 national organizations and state coalitions working to reduce the growing number of falls and fall-related injuries among older adults. More than one-third of adults 65 years and older fall each year and among those who fall, 20 to 30 percent suffer moderate to severe injuries that reduce mobility and independence, and increase the risk of premature death.

The Falls Free Coalition was organized by the National Council on the Aging's Center for Healthy Aging with major support from the Home Safety Council and the Archstone Foundation. The original members of the coalition included attendees from the highly successful Falls Free Summit that was held in December 2004. The outcome of this event was the release of Falls Free: Promoting a National Falls Prevention Action Plan in March 2005.

The main goal of the Falls Free Coalition is to implement the 36 strategies within the National Action Plan through collaboration among its members. An outgrowth of this collaboration was the creation of the Public Policy Workgroup. This group, composed of the Home Safety Council, the National Council on Aging, the National Safety Council and other supporting national organizations, actively promotes funding for the Safety of Seniors Act (PL 110-202) which focuses on older adult falls prevention.

Twenty-three states have formed falls prevention coalitions and are engaging in advocacy initiatives to address this serious public health issue. If you would like more information or to join the workgroup or coalition, please contact Christina Stafford at cstafford@golinharris.com.

Resources:

• Falls Free Coalition Description and Members
• Falls Free Coalition Executive Summary
• How Safe is Your State?
• Home Safety Council's Safe Steps Program
• National Action Plan
• Safety of Seniors Act 2007

Additional Resources:

• The National Council on the Aging
• Center for Healthy Aging
• The National Safety Council
• White House Council on the Aging