For older adults, falls often have serious consequences, including mortality, morbidity and disability. When elders fall, multiple causes and predisposing risk factors are usually involved, making diagnosis, treatment and prevention difficult clinical challenges. Familiarity with the major aspects of falls and fall prevention helps all professionals in aging better serve their clients. Laurence Z. Rubenstein, a leading national expert on falls among elders, provides the basics for understanding this vital healthcare issue. Read More >>

Coalitions can be the most efficient method of addressing a public health issue that would be too overwhelming for any single entity to tackle on its own. An effective coalition brings the power of multiple organizations, agencies and individuals together around common goals. When stakeholders in a Northern California county understood the complex approach needed for an effective fall-prevention program, they realized that the coalition approach would provide the best opportunity for success. Read More >>

Older adults residing in long-term care settings are particularly vulnerable to falls and fall-related injuries. A number of reports have described the risk factors for falls in nursing homes, and a few well-controlled studies suggest we can reduce the incidence of falls in such institutional settings. But can this research translate into practical programs for managing the risk of falls for nursing home residents? A city-funded long-term care facility set out to answer this question. Read More >>

San Francisco’s Community and Home Injury Prevention Program for Seniors focuses on preventing injuries among healthy, community-dwelling elders. The strategy is to increase awareness among local older adults and their caregivers that injuries are preventable, to develop and share simple ways to recognize and correct injury hazards, and to provide training and resource information to health professionals and the public. The program clearly is working: A study has shown a 60 percent reduction in falls among participating elders. Read More >>

We’re just heading into autumn and the season of falling leaves, but springtime and cherry blossoms are already on the minds of the HAN leadership and the ASA staff. HAN Leadership Council chair Monika White explains why: The exciting work of putting all the plans in place for the 2008 NCOA-ASA conference, set for March in Washington, D.C., is in full swing. Monika also brings us up to date on activities involving leadership, governance and growth for the network. Read More >>