A Holistic Approach to Developing Fall-Prevention Programs for Community-Dwelling Older Adults.

Falls among older adults are a major public health concern because they have a high incidence and impose substantial personal and societal burdens (Marks & Allegrante, 2004). Physical, emotional, social, environmental, and financial costs of fall-related injuries can be devastating. The direct annual financial cost in the United States for treating fall-related injuries is more than $20 billion annually (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2008). Research has focused on factors that hinder healthy aging among community-dwelling older adults. However, scarce literature exists on factors that facilitate education- and prevention-related activities focused on falls. This article makes a case for comprehensive activity programs that include fall-prevention workshops for older adults. Further, this article presents a literature review on the causes of falling and its impact on older adults. A holistic approach to developing fall-prevention programs and a strong commitment to promoting and implementing such programs will be discussed. A summary of evidence-based fall-prevention programs will be shared. Recommendations for planning and achieving fall-prevention program objectives will be offered to aid activity professionals as they create and implement successful programs to support health and well-being among community-dwelling older adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]