Falls Prevention Programs

Suffolk County Department of Health Services

Stay Independent for Life  and  Stepping On: Building Confidence and Reducing Falls

Why think about falls?

Falls are the leading cause of unintentional injury and deaths for senior citizens living in New York State. More than one in three over 65 years of age fall each year. Half of the senior citizen population are hospitalized due to a fall, and end up in a nursing home or rehabilitation center.
Note: Program is not only for people 65 and older; you can also be under 65 and still attend a falls prevention program. Research has indicated persons as young as age 50 who participate in preventive injury prevention activities increase their likely hood of staying healthy and staying independent as they grow older.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Census, between 2012 and 2050, "the United States will experi¬ence considerable growth in its older population. In 2050, the population aged 65 and over is projected to be 83.7 million, almost double its population of 43.1 million in 2012.

According to the Center for Disease Control:

• 16% of older adults in U.S. have fallen at least one time in the past three months.
• 31% of older adults in the U.S. sustained an injury that resulted in a visit to a primary care provider.

In 2013, the U.S. Bureau of Census reports that the senior citizen is 14.9% of the total population in Suffolk County, New York.

• As of 2014, there are approximately 450,000 senior citizens who live in Suffolk County.
• In 2013, Suffolk County ambulance call data identifies 17% calls for EMT service was due to a falls related injury in Suffolk County, New York.

Recognizing the rapid increase in the senior citizen population and their needs related to injury prevention, Suffolk County Department of Health Services through the Division of Preventive Medicine implemented different falls prevention programs to meet this increasing public health need."